Although in relative terms, agriculture has lost its importance in the national economy as a result of the recent evolution presented by industry and the tertiary sector, as well as the percentage of employees (1.9% in 2018). The centuries-old experience of the Dutch in territorial organization and in the work of enhancing the land reclaimed from the sea (approx. Half of the national surface) has allowed the notable growth of the agricultural sector, one of the most advanced in terms of techniques and unitary yields (in in particular, the yields of wheat, oats and potatoes and, in Europe, those of sugar beet are unsurpassed worldwide. The space available is limited, but a complex water regulation system works continuously, also regulating the depth of the aquifer which, together with the nature of the soils, affects possible crops. The yields, as mentioned, are very high; this is due both to the high level of professional preparation of farmers, and to the intensive use of fertilizers (dictated by the original sterility of most of the soils), to the widespread mechanization, to the selection of plant species (and animals, as will be seen with regard to breeding) and, finally, thanks to the attentive presence of the State, which intervenes by creating adequate infrastructures. Agricultural properties are generally small, directly managed, although the prevailing trend is that of the numerical growth of the larger group of farms. L’ the existence of cooperatives of producers and distributors, connected with those of consumers, ensures further advantages and facilitates the good performance of the sector. About half of the arable land is occupied by cereals; the main product is wheat, however limited to the southern clayey areas, while barley, oats and rye are more widespread.
However, cereal harvests are insufficient for domestic needs and extensive use must be made of imports. Potato cultivation is widespread everywhere, giving rise to considerable exports and the starch industry; the potato is also the national food together with dried legumes (beans, peas) and cabbages. The good clayey soils of the maritime plains also favor the cultivation of sugar beet, which allows a considerable sugar industry. Among the oilseeds are represented above all rapeseed and flax, the latter traditional cultivation (as in neighboring Belgium) which provides fiber and seeds. Large spaces are also left to forage crops as a function of a highly developed breeding. Probably, the most interesting and typical aspect of agriculture in the Netherlands is given by the diffusion of heated greenhouses, present in the provinces of both southern and northern Holland (it is estimated that about half of the surface of European greenhouses is found in the countries Bassi), which are used for cultivation of flowers – tulips, hyacinths, chrysanthemums, greenhouse roses – and of early fruit and vegetables, whose accelerated maturation allows their export mainly to the German and Swiss markets since the beginning of spring. Bulbs are also exported all over the world which, unlike flowers, are grown outdoors, particularly in the region between Alkmaar and The Hague. On the other hand, the wooded area is extremely limited. Given the morphology of the territory and the climatic conditions, the areas of meadows and permanent pastures are very extensive which, together with the spread of forage crops, favor the development of a very flourishing animal husbandry: cattle breeding prevails, which makes use of highly selected breeds., including the famous dairy Friesian, reaching very high yields. L’ on the contrary, farming is at the basis of the prosperity of many specifically agricultural areas and is practiced above all as a function of the dairy industry, which is well organized and also produces cheeses that are highly rated abroad (Edam, Alkmaar, Gouda etc.); the Netherlands also ranks among the leading European producers for butter and margarine. Visit fashionissupreme.com for European Union EU. Pigs are also widespread, for which the by-products of the dairy industry are used, and poultry. Despite the pollution of the North Sea, fishing, modernly organized, represents another important sector: herring, of which the Dutch first discovered the smoking process necessary for their conservation, constitute the most important product (with main center processing a Vlaardingen); other fishing ports are Scheveningen, Katwijk and IJmuiden. A Bergen op Zoom prosperous oyster farming.
