influenced the Vilaine region. All of these droughts had significant damages on many
sectors, including the agricultural production. As a result, several water- and
agriculture-related measures were taken, such as financial protection for farmers and
irrigation bans.
Agriculture and food and drink production are major industries in the Somerset
County. Somerset is a major producer of cider, based on their apple orchards.
Furthermore, farming of sheep and cattle and the production of cheese are important
in the region. In the whole south-west area of England two-thirds of the land is
devoted to agriculture, which employs 3.7 % of the workforce in the region. In
2010–2012, Somerset experienced a drought event with consequences for the whole
region, also farmers. Furthermore, expected wetter winters and drier summers are
likely to have a profound effect on land management and farming. Building soil
organic matter is crucial to drought-proofing soils in Somerset. It is expected that
the cultivation of new crops such as grapes, maize, sunflowers and soya will
increase in the region, with the consequences of an increased need for irrigation,
owing to reduced summer rainfall and higher temperatures. Over the coming
century, the region’s water resources will come under greater strain as summer
droughts potentially grow longer and the demand for irrigation increases.
Main crops grown in the Twente region of the water authority Vechtstromen are
grass and corn for animal feed and high-value crops, such as flower bulbs and
potatoes, all of which are water sensitive. Thus the agricultural sector in Twente is
also vulnerable for water scarcity and droughts. Irrigation bans were announced in
the 1990s, partly as a result of drainage measures that were taken for the wet
periods. Grassland farming is expected to be intensified, and thus need more water
for irrigation, which is likely to cause more irrigation bans during dry periods. The
recent irrigation policy, which was adopted in 2013 and applies to the areas of all
the water authorities in the eastern Netherlands, including the Salland region. The
policy aims to balance the use of groundwater and surface water by farmers and the
water needs of vulnerable nature areas. However, the policy will only apply to
groundwater extractions from new wells, whereas the existing wells are excluded,
thus reducing its potential impact .
The agricultural sector in the case study regions can be characterized as being
sensitive to water availability, mainly in irrigated areas, and thus negatively affected
from the past occurrences of drought. Eifel-Rur region is the only exception to this
characterization, where drought has very low impact on agriculture. Furthermore, in
all the regions, during drought periods multiple water user sectors are prioritized
and the agricultural sector often receives a lower priority than that of domestic,
environmental and industrial uses. This lower priority implies restricted or reduced
water availabilities for agriculture, and even irrigation bans during severe drought
occurrences. The sensitivity to water availability is expected to increase due to
varying drivers such as further intensification of farming, increased cultivation of
water-demanding crops, decreases in summer precipitations and the need for longer
irrigation periods.
206
G. Özerol and J. Troeltzsch
sectors, including the agricultural production. As a result, several water- and
agriculture-related measures were taken, such as financial protection for farmers and
irrigation bans.
Agriculture and food and drink production are major industries in the Somerset
County. Somerset is a major producer of cider, based on their apple orchards.
Furthermore, farming of sheep and cattle and the production of cheese are important
in the region. In the whole south-west area of England two-thirds of the land is
devoted to agriculture, which employs 3.7 % of the workforce in the region. In
2010–2012, Somerset experienced a drought event with consequences for the whole
region, also farmers. Furthermore, expected wetter winters and drier summers are
likely to have a profound effect on land management and farming. Building soil
organic matter is crucial to drought-proofing soils in Somerset. It is expected that
the cultivation of new crops such as grapes, maize, sunflowers and soya will
increase in the region, with the consequences of an increased need for irrigation,
owing to reduced summer rainfall and higher temperatures. Over the coming
century, the region’s water resources will come under greater strain as summer
droughts potentially grow longer and the demand for irrigation increases.
Main crops grown in the Twente region of the water authority Vechtstromen are
grass and corn for animal feed and high-value crops, such as flower bulbs and
potatoes, all of which are water sensitive. Thus the agricultural sector in Twente is
also vulnerable for water scarcity and droughts. Irrigation bans were announced in
the 1990s, partly as a result of drainage measures that were taken for the wet
periods. Grassland farming is expected to be intensified, and thus need more water
for irrigation, which is likely to cause more irrigation bans during dry periods. The
recent irrigation policy, which was adopted in 2013 and applies to the areas of all
the water authorities in the eastern Netherlands, including the Salland region. The
policy aims to balance the use of groundwater and surface water by farmers and the
water needs of vulnerable nature areas. However, the policy will only apply to
groundwater extractions from new wells, whereas the existing wells are excluded,
thus reducing its potential impact .
The agricultural sector in the case study regions can be characterized as being
sensitive to water availability, mainly in irrigated areas, and thus negatively affected
from the past occurrences of drought. Eifel-Rur region is the only exception to this
characterization, where drought has very low impact on agriculture. Furthermore, in
all the regions, during drought periods multiple water user sectors are prioritized
and the agricultural sector often receives a lower priority than that of domestic,
environmental and industrial uses. This lower priority implies restricted or reduced
water availabilities for agriculture, and even irrigation bans during severe drought
occurrences. The sensitivity to water availability is expected to increase due to
varying drivers such as further intensification of farming, increased cultivation of
water-demanding crops, decreases in summer precipitations and the need for longer
irrigation periods.
206
G. Özerol and J. Troeltzsch