Crop tour Weather - Week 26
Growing weather in June, but tough for growers
In June, arable farmers experienced almost all weather conditions. Tropical temperatures with sunshine were followed with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, causing many problems locally. Despite these extremes, the crops seem to have caught up in growth.
After a wet and cold period, June started with many hours of sunshine, extremely hot and dry. The crops had reached their growth spurt, but especially in the south it soon became too dry and the reel was rolled out. That didn't take long, because thunderstorms and a cooler period followed. After May, June also turned out to be a soaking wet month.
Precipitation
The west coast of the Netherlands in particular was hit hard in terms of precipitation, with local monthly sums of 150 - 200 millimeters. The south, where the crops needed the precipitation most, also received the required millimeters. Nationally, an average of 91 millimeters fell in June, compared to 67 millimeters normally in June. Apart from the extremes, many potato growers are happy with the precipitation. For example, the precipitation in many areas was perfect during the tuber setting of the potatoes.
Temperature
An increase in temperature was desperately needed because of the stunted growth of the crops. Many crops quickly revived after the increase in temperature and plenty of sunlight, in combination with sufficient moisture. The temperature made a big jump last month: the national average temperature was more than 2 degrees higher than normal, with 18,3 degrees in 2021 compared to 16,2 degrees normal in June.
The precipitation that fell often came down via heavy downpours and was accompanied by hail and thunderstorms. For example, locally damage regularly occurred in the crops, such as in the sowing onions on the Gewastour plot in Nagele was the case. Also in the potato plots there are regular spots with water damage. Where there has been water, the crop lags behind or plants are missing.
Kortgene sowing onions keep their heads just above water
Last week it was again hit with water damage. This time on the Crop Tour plot in Kortgene (Zeeland). Due to the large amount of water in the past month, the soil was already well saturated, so that a lot of water remained on the plot during a downpour of 40 millimeters.
Onion grower Klaasjan Boer can already see the water damage clearly reflected in his plot: "The plot was in good shape, but you can now see places with plants that are turning yellow and have had a lack of oxygen. I was able to remove a large part of the water and hopefully it stays here."
Jesse Torringa
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