News 28 June 2008
Persistent drought in the Northern Netherlands
It has not rained for a very long time in the north of Friesland and Groningen. Nor has it rained in the Noordoostpolder; however growers there can make use of spring water and irrigate the crops. In Friesland and Groningen this is impossible because of the high salt content and the ban on the use of surface water due to brown rot regulations. Particularly on parcels consisting of heavier clay, potatoes have difficulty developing and in a number of cases the potatoes have not even grown above ground. The mother tuber provides the moisture necessary for sprouting, but moisture necessary for the root system to develop is lacking. The pictures show a parcel in the North of Friesland and illustrate the most extreme situation. Many areas show irregular development and are lagging behind. The tuber placement, of early varieties in particular, is bad and can be seen as a reaction of the potato plant to the drought. The late varieties may still possibly develop some more tubers. In the North of our country about 10,000 ha of seed has been planted.
Arno From   
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