Dutch potato growers are facing a dilemma this September because their crop is too small to dig up ahead of the October 1 deadline. From 2023, potatoes grown on sandy soil must be harvested by October 1 to prevent harmful nitrates and nitrogen compounds from entering the groundwater, in line with a European directive. Those farmers who grow on sandy soil must have harvested their potato crop by the end of the month. If they don’t hit the target, they will be allowed to use less manure as a fertilizer next year.
However, the cold, wet spring meant that many farmers did not plant out their seed potatoes until late May, rather than late April.
Source: dutchnews.nl