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Know How / Potatoes / Crop management

From calculating fertiliser requirements, managing pest threats such as potato cyst nematode, and keeping on top of diseases including potato blight, there are significant decisions to be made on potato agronomy throughout the growing season. Keep up-to-date on how to tackle these issues and find out what new technology has to offer the professional potato grower in today’s market.

Case studies

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ARABLE

How optimistic potato grower targets soil improvements

Potato planting might only have finished in the last week of May, but our Northern Arable Insights grower James Pick is still reasonably optimistic for the crop this season. “We…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Norfolk estate assesses risks in move to no-insecticides

An estate near the north Norfolk coast is farming with no insecticides across nearly two-thirds of its land, and is hoping for flexibility to qualify for payments under new environmental…

POTATOES

Why varieties and targeted N are vital for potato profit

Potatoes are the main cash crop for Scottish mixed farmer David Bell who farms in Fife, where a focus on variety choice and targeted nutrition are key factors that lead…

POTATOES

Offsetting produces UK's first carbon-neutral potatoes

Morgan Scale is growing carbon-neutral potatoes in west Wales by using his cover crops and crop rotation to offset greenhouse gas emissions from his spuds and so produce for the…

POTATOES

Lincs grower moves towards more sustainable potato production

Farm manager Simon Day is taking big strides in growing potatoes more sustainably and cutting their carbon footprint by widening his rotation, reducing costly cultivations and introducing cover crops to…

POTATOES

Video: Cornish potato grower battles costs and tricky planting

Costs are up more than 20% for Cornish salad potato grower Phil Rogers, in a showery planting season which has required further costly cultivations to ensure perfect seed-bed conditions. Two…

Practical advice

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POTATOES

Advice on reducing risk of late season disease in potatoes

With unsettled weather set to continue, potato haulm destruction could be a protracted process in many crops, particularly indeterminate varieties or those grown for seed. SAC Consulting’s potato expert Kyran…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Growers advised to check weed control before blight spraying

Potato growers are being advised to check fields to determine how well their herbicides have worked before the blight spraying season kicks off. Andrew Goodinson, potato agronomist at crop production…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How to keep potato crops free from weeds this spring

Potato planting has proved challenging for some and weed control could also be tricky. Farmers Weekly gets some regional strategic advice from the Association of Independent Potato Consultants (AIPC) before…

SOILS

3 steps to take to reduce reliance on artificial fertiliser

Farmers are seeking ways to cut artificial fertiliser rates as prices skyrocket and one Canadian expert has developed a three-step approach to achieve this. Cropping is currently based on classic…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Tips on how to reduce losses from tuber blight this autumn

Potato growers are urged to remain vigilant against tuber blight as the season draws to a close, with adequate skin set and early store management key to avoiding significant losses.…

WEED MANAGEMENT

How growers can help secure future of bentazone with web tool

A new tool has been introduced to help growers reduce the risk of water pollution and the loss of a vital post-emergence herbicide for pulses and potatoes. Bentazone is a…

Insights

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POTATOES

How a trickle approach can cut potato irrigation costs

Diesel and electricity are the main energy sources used to pump water through irrigation systems. It was, therefore, a double whammy when last year’s high prices hit potato growers in…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Trial shows granular nematicide reduces losses from spraing

New research shows how farmers can successfully tackle the growing problem of free-living nematodes, and the subsequent spraing damage to tubers when they transmit tobacco rattle virus. Tobacco rattle virus…

POTATOES

4 steps to tackle PCN after granular nematicides

The last remaining granular nematicide for potato cyst nematode (PCN) control, Nemathorin (fosthiazate) faces an uncertain future on UK farms. While its approval holder, ISK, and marketer Syngenta have invested…

HARVEST AND CROP STORAGE

How to keep tubers disease-free in potato stores

Both seed and ware potato growers are urged not to fall at the final hurdle and leave crops vulnerable to storage diseases this year, as field conditions push up the…

POTATOES

How new potato tech works to improve quality and yield

A specialist agri-tech research company has developed a number of camera and sensor based technologies to improve the quality and yield of potato crops, with plans to scale up across…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Round-up of firms offering strategic arable advice services

At a time of unprecedented change in the farming industry, there has never been a greater need for impartial advice and direction. Given current uncertainty, strategic agronomy services are increasingly…

PEST MANAGEMENT

New project tackles nematodes in potatoes and daffodils

A new three-year project aims to tackle the spread of plant parasitic nematodes in potatoes and daffodils using cover crops. Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are a growing problem in Scotland,…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in NI and Scotland

Nitrate vulnerable zones exist to protect the environment against potential pollution from fertiliser and manure applications. Each devolved nation has its own rules – so what do arable farmers need…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How to tackle worrying emerging potato blight strains

Breeders believe they have the tools to stay one step ahead of late blight in potatoes, despite concern about new and more aggressive strains emerging across Europe. Since 2000, researchers…

PEST MANAGEMENT

4 slug pellet myths busted for better control

The withdrawal of metaldehyde means growers will soon only have ferric phosphate slug pellets to count on when managing this devastating pest. However, there are a number of myths on…

POTATOES

How an easy-to-use app can help with tight potato margins

At the sharp end of the season, potato maincrops might be increasing or decreasing in value by as much as £100/ha/day as yields increase and segment proportions change. Harvest too…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in England

Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) account for about 55% of land in England, making it more likely than not that a farming enterprise is within a designated NVZ. So with NVZs…

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