Netherlands: Three weeks' postponement for mandatory sowing of catch crops on sand and loess

Last week, Minister Wiersma of LVVN decided to grant growers on sand and loess a three-week extension for sowing catch crops. This decision was prompted by the extremely wet weather conditions in the spring. Due to the shortened growing season, the growing period of most crops is too short to ripen sufficiently. As a result, timely harvesting to sow a catch crop is not sufficiently possible. The decision follows advice from an Expert Committee in which Cosun was also represented. Sugar beets from 1 November winter cultivation It remains the case that in the context of the 7th Nitrate Directive Action Programme (7th APN), sugar beets on sand and loess have the status of winter cultivation from 1 November. On clay soil, there are no requirements for mandatory sowing of catch crops in sugar beet cultivation in relation to the 7th APN. Beet cultivation on sand & loess For beet cultivation, the three-week postponement means the following on sand & loess: Non-winter crops ...