Netherlands: Flooding and the consequences of the potato harvest continue to concern people in Flanders

The abundant rain in West Flanders is causing serious headaches for potato growers and processors in the region, De Tijd also writes. "Potatoes grow in so-called ridges. They are scooped up with a machine that separates the potatoes from the ground. But what you are scooping up now is one pack of mud. Separating such a lump is simply not possible," says Ilse Eeckhout, coordinator at the Interprovincial Test Center for Potato Cultivation (PCA) against the Belgian newspaper. In addition to the weather conditions, the soil is an important factor. In West Flanders it typically contains a lot of clay, reports De Tijd. "It is much more difficult for water to flow through there, so it can take weeks before you can get back into the field," says Steven De Cuyper, agricultural director at the West Flemish chip giant Agristo. "In that case, you have to hope that it will be cleared before the end of the year does not freeze, because then what is still in the ground is lost. And then you will ...