'Potato harvest won't be great, that's for sure'

Last week's rainfall did not relax growers in the Dutch potato world. The potatoes need water, which is why most arable farmers have sent the reel back into the country to irrigate the crop. The same goes for the participants of the Boerenbusiness Dutch Crop tour.

Pluvius had too little rain in store this week to be able to dot with irrigation. The precipitation that is given in the weather forecasts for the coming period also does not seem to be able to break any pots. This allows the reel to continue working hours on the plots. This is also the case at Kees Trouw in Hellevoetsluis (ZH). He irrigated his potatoes for the first time with 25 millimetres. Last week, 10 millimeters of rain fell in Hellevoetsluis, but that was not enough. "When you return to the potato plot three to four days after irrigating, several floors of foliage have grown. Due to the high humidity and lower temperatures, the water also evaporates less quickly," says Trouw. "What we should expect in the end is still difficult to say. One thing is certain: it will not be a top harvest."

The potatoes are also irrigated in other places, such as in Zeewolde (FL) and Steenbergen (NB). The plot in Zeewolde is irrigated with 20 millimeters.

In Limburg, the potatoes are in bloom in the middle. Last week, 36 millimeters of rain fell in Voerendaal. "Only it is still on the dry side," says Ruud Steinbusch. On Tuesday he started threshing the winter barley.

Threshing barley
In addition to potatoes, other crops also deserve attention. In IJzendijke (ZL) and Elst (GL) the threshing of winter barley has started. The yield of the winter barley does not look bad at first glance, the growers say.

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