ANPApotatoes are harvested in the Hoeksche Waard
NOS News•today, 3:33 PM•Adjusted today, 4:15 PM
The House of Representatives allows farmers to harvest their potatoes two weeks later. A proposal on this from BBB and SGP has been adopted. Due to new fertilizer regulations, crops on sandy and loess soil must actually be harvested before October 1. But many farmers say they will not achieve that because of the wet spring and the subsequent drought.
Farmers were unable to plant or sow their crops for a while due to the rain and cold in the spring; the wet ground made the land impassable. When it was possible to plant and sow, it was too dry again. As a result, crops mature later.
Vanggewassen
Since this year, the government has been applying a new harvest policy. The idea is to reduce water pollution by nitrate (a form of nitrogen) from agriculture. Certain crops must be harvested and so-called catch crops must be sown before a number of fixed dates. Catch crops ensure that less nitrogen ends up in surface water.
Farmers leave the potatoes in the ground longer, so they can use less nitrogen the following year. The rule applies to sand and loess because these soil types retain nitrogen less well than clay and peat soil. Just over half of all Dutch potatoes for consumption are grown on sand or loess, mainly in the southeast of the country.
The latest date for sowing catch crops is actually October 1 and will now be October 15, if it is up to the House. This allows farmers to grow their potatoes for two weeks longer.
More
The government is not in favor of shifting the deadline, because it would cause more nitrogen to enter the water. “The date of October 1 was chosen because scientific research shows that the earlier the catch crop is sown, the more effective it is for capturing nitrogen,” the nitrate directive states.
Yesterday, however, it was announced that Minister Adema of Agriculture is targeting corn growers in Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen nine extra days gives. The deadline there has gone from October 1 to October 10, because the corn is not yet ripe.
BBB leader Van der Plas asked for a quick response from the cabinet after the potato proposal was adopted. “Preferably today.” She pointed out that October 1st is just a few days away.
Adema has said that he wants to send a letter this week and that he has heard “the signal from the House”.
Nitrate Directive?
Met the 7th Nitrate Directive Action Program the government wants to limit the leaching and run-off of nitrate and phosphate from manure in order to improve the quality of ground and surface water. This action program applies from 2023 to 2027.
For example, the document states that the catch crop must be sown before October 1 in sand and loess areas. Catch crops such as grass or winter wheat absorb nitrogen from the manure. This means that the land must be free for the catch crop before October 1 and farmers must therefore harvest before that date.
2023-09-26 13:33:15
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