The sub-zero temperatures have a detrimental effect on crops that were prevented from being harvested due to the extreme precipitation in recent months. Potatoes still in the fields in January are to be considered lost. Wijnand Sukkel of Wageningen University & Research: ‘Farmers deal with increasingly extreme weather. WUR seeks solutions in lighter farming machinery and breeding varieties that are more resilient against extreme weather.’
Climate change causes drought, extreme heat, extreme summer precipitation and wetter winters. The soil in several locations is saturated to the extent that it cannot support the weight of harvesting equipment, nor can it be prepared for sowing. An estimated five to ten per cent of the potato, carrot and sugar beet harvest is still in the ground. Grain farmers have been unable to sow winter grain.
‘The wet spring last year delayed the planting of potato and sugarbeet crops, and when the time came to harvest, the soil was, once again, drenched’, says Wijnand Sukkel, a researcher of sustainable agriculture. ‘The heavy harvesting combines get stuck in the mud. This, and the amount of water in the ground, adversely affects soil structure. The air is pushed out of the soil, which jeopardises the crops. Due to compaction, water can no longer infiltrate the soil, which will only worsen the problem in the coming years.’
The heavy rainfall has been on everyone’s minds, says Eric Poot, Team Leader at WUR Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs. Spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, were planted later due to the persistent rainfall and are under stress from the elevated water levels. This may cause a disappointing harvest in the summer. ‘Moreover, growers are worried about autumn-flowering plants. The lilies are still in the ground in several places, and bulbs have already perished.’