Crop tour Weather
Drought and heat make potatoes wear out faster
For many potato and onion growers who participate in the Boerenbusiness Crop tour, the dry and warm month of July was a challenge. The drought and high temperatures of up to 36 degrees have resulted in an accelerated return of the potato crop in many fields.
On average, the temperature was 18,6 degrees in July, but Limburg, for example, had a peak of up to 39,5 degrees. In the middle of the month, on July 18 and 19, the average temperature rose to above 30 degrees. The plots in Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg were hit hardest by the heat wave.
The month of July this year was warmer than the same month last year. According to the KNMI, it was 0,6 degrees warmer in July this year than in 2021 and 0,3 degrees warmer than the average for July. This is also becoming increasingly visible in the fields, where the potato crop is clearly starting to wear out earlier than normal this season.
| Temperature in C° | Intermediate | 2021 | 2022 |
| February | 3,9 | 4,3 | 6,8 |
| March | 6,5 | 6,4 | 7,3 |
| April | 9,9 | 6,7 | 9,3 |
| Mei | 13,4 | 11,2 | 14,0 |
| June | 16,2 | 18,2 | 17,2 |
| July | 18,3 | 18,0 | 18,6 |
The precipitation that fell in July was only moderate. Many growers had to make do with less than 40 millimeters throughout July. With some exceptions, other growers got no more than 60 millimeters. This is considerably lower than the 60 to 100 millimeters that normally fall in July.
The precipitation deficit also increased in July. Last month we were just below the line of 5% driest years, we will surpass it in July. KNMI expects this trend to continue in August.
Robin Winter
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