Slow start to growing season due to precipitation and cold

A lot of precipitation fell in the Netherlands last week. While the first onions and sugar beet were sown in the sunny south of the country at the end of February, many spring activities have now come to a halt. A lot of precipitation has fallen, especially in the north, but the temperature is also slowing down the new growing season.

At the beginning of March it remained relatively dry, but in week 10 the weather turned. There was a lot of precipitation and especially the northeast was hit. The precipitation map below provides a good overview.

Spring work postponed due to precipitation
While a rain shower was desirable on the lighter soils in the south, the planting and sowing machines are still in place on the heavier soils. It is particularly disappointing in the north and center of the Netherlands. It is quite wet and there is water on some plots. Activities such as spreading fertilizer and compost are postponed on the heavier soils. Fortunately, many growers had the time to work the soil last winter. So is onion grower Reinder Hogenhout from Kimswerd. "We are glad that we have plowed or plowed almost everything before the winter. Because of the tillage, the plots are a lot drier." 
 

Arjen Jakobs has started spreading compost on the onion plot of the Gewastour on the sandy soils in Wezup. "This is a fine ground and can be walked on very quickly".

Night frost keeps work in check
Although less precipitation has fallen in the south, the temperature also plays a role. Last week there has been regular night frost on the ground. Frost and low temperatures are not conducive to the young crop. Night frost is not excluded next week either. Martijn Derikx, onion grower of the Gewastour confirms this. "We went to plant press pots until yesterday and then unfortunately not until Monday due to frost. I do hope that we can sow the next plot for the Crop Tour. The wetness is not too bad here, only the temperature does not want to rise at night."

The outlook shows that we can expect more spring weather after the weekend. It looks like it will remain dry and the temperature will gradually rise over the next few days, but at night the mercury can drop to freezing point.

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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