News in brief: Dutch potato farmers are facing crop losses due to a late harvest deadline extended to October because of wet weather, risking rotting potatoes and potential shortages, prompting them to call for government assistance.
Dutch potato farmers are warning of crop losses due to a late harvest deadline. The deadline for harvesting potatoes is usually in September but this year, it has been extended to October due to wet weather.
The farmers say that the wet weather is making it difficult to harvest the potatoes and that they are at risk of rotting in the ground. They also expressed concerned about how late harvest could lead to a shortage of potatoes and higher prices for consumers.
The Dutch Potato Growers’ Association has called on the government to intervene and to provide financial assistance to farmers who are affected by the late harvest.
Jannes van Loon, the association’s chairman, said that the late harvest is a disaster for the potato sector and could cause job losses as well as bankruptcies.
The government has said that it is monitoring the situation and assured the farmers that it is sympathetic to their concerns. However, it has not yet announced any plans to intervene.
The late harvest is the latest challenge facing Dutch potato farmers. In recent years, the sector has been hit with a number of problems. These include a potato disease called late blight and a shortage of labor.
The late harvest is a further blow to the Dutch economy, which is already struggling with the effects of the war in Ukraine. It has disrupted global food markets and has led to higher prices for food.
In addition, this late harvest of potatoes is a reminder of the vulnerability of the food supply chain and of climate action.
