Potato legs getting late on last plots

Since last week, a large amount of precipitation has fallen in the north and center of the Netherlands. There were no showers in the south, but millimeters have fallen there too. Precipitation is desirable for many growers, but in some areas it is likely that potato planting will be very late.

After the dry period in April, there seems to be no end to rain showers since Thursday 29 April. The total precipitation sum is high in some areas. A big difference if we compare north with south. 

In the north and in the Netherlands, the precipitation sum is in the direction of 40 millimeters. If we add the precipitation at the end of April to this, in areas in the north and center of the Netherlands it comes out at 60 millimeters. In the south there is a lack of serious rain showers.

End of planting season is postponed
The planting season got off to a slow start due to the cold spring. The end is now in sight, but the final chord is hampered by the large amount of precipitation. The weather forecast for this weekend doesn't help either. As a result, some of the potato growers are in danger of not being able to continue with potato legs until mid-May.

Onion grower Reinder Hogenhout confirms that: 'A lot of rain has fallen here in Friesland, it is now soaking wet. Quite a few potatoes still have to be planted here.' Many potatoes are still waiting to be planted in the province of Groningen. There is also enough water in the rain gauge at onion grower Harm Jan Hospers in the Flevopolder: 'Here, Nagele has fallen enough for the time being. It's a big difference from last year. Then we watered on April 21, 2 weeks after the onions had been sown. Now that is not the case at all.'

South finally gets showers
It has remained dry in the south of the Netherlands in recent days. A spinning reel was visible on a number of plots, especially on the recently sown plots. Meanwhile, the south also has the first millimeters in the rain gauge and the planters there are also standing still. 

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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