PSI Bulletin: April 2024
No. 4/24 SUBSCRIBER EDITION: please go to potatostorageinsight.com/subscribe to sign up as a Synopsis subscriber. Most of our bulletins are fully accessible only to our subscribers.
Welcome to the April edition of Synopsis. First an apology: this month's PSI’s monthly round-up of potato storage information and news is running a little late due to some clashing commitments, but we should be back on track next month...
At last there seems to be some significant uptake in planting (below), with growers able to take advantage of some bright, fine conditions although temperatures have remained on the cool side for many. That said, this work has been taking place in between periods of continued erratic and generally wet weather most of us have experienced throughout the winter.
This month, for our technical insight feature, we look forward to the Strategic Potato Storage Day at Long Sutton, Lincs on Tuesday 14th May. PSI is one of the organisers of this day and I have tried to provide an overview of each exhibiting partner organisation so that you can see their relevance to your business. As a PSI subscriber, we do hope you will be able to attend; there is more detail below.
Our best practice slot this time around is for those with processing crops remaining in store and focuses on senescent sweetening. And there is some key news on developments which will hopefully turn out to be for everyone's benefit in the coming months...
Technical Insight
STRATEGIC POTATO STORAGE DAY: 14 MAY 2024
GB Potatoes, Potato Storage Insight and SDF Agriculture are organising a Strategic Potato Storage technical event on Tuesday 14 May 2024 from 09.30 at Winters Lane Storage, Long Sutton to which all PSI subscribers are invited to attend. There is no charge. The registration link provided by GB Potatoes can be accessed here.
Morning Session – Winters Lane Storage, Long Sutton, PE12 9BE courtesy of Winters Lane Storage grower co-operative members
Project partners stands to be viewed on arrival.
Event partners listed above, with more information on each below
Presentations on trials and the cold storage for fresh / table potatoes strategy deployed at WLS. Topics to include:
Storage regimes – cold temperatures & sprout suppression options
Maleic hydrazide uptake – results for commercial varieties
Store design performance in terms of air flow – Aspire system and reversing of fridge coil
Evenness of temperatures throughout the stores
Energy use & storage costs
Respiration / weight loss – concepts and data from the University of Greenwich 'pod'.
Dormancy
New / existing PCN varieties in storage under WLS regime.
Speakers include Simon Faulkner, Richard Colgan, Adrian Cunnington, Roger Stones, Mark Taylor.
Hog roast lunch at Winters Lane site
Refreshments
View exhibitors' stands
Networking
Afternoon – option to visit satellite stores at Gedney Dyke, PE12 0AJ courtesy of S&S Pugh
2 processing stores
Commercial crops for McCain
2 storage strategies:
MH + DMN + Ethylene
MH + 1-MCP (ethylene blocker) + Ethylene.
Fry colour results for varieties from each storage regime.
Dormancy
MH results for commercial crops
Respiration information from the UoG pod
SmartStor equipment installed running one store
Insulation / airflow (closed system)
Carbon dioxide monitoring and flushing
Weight loss.
Exhibitors and partners:
AgroFresh - manufacturers of Smart Fresh (1-MCP) used as an ethylene blocker in processing storage
Branston - major supplier to Tesco and other markets
Biofresh/Safestore - suppliers of ethylene systems
Burgess Farms - major supplier to Waitrose
Certis Belchim - multinational agchem supplier including maleic hydrazide
CIPC Residue Monitoring Group - industry body seeking data on residues to keep stores compliant
Cornerstone Systems - storage control systems for multi-store sites including Winters Lane stores
Crop Systems - suppliers of storage buildings, ventilation/cooling and store control systems
Farm Electronics - storage and ventilation systems from Tolsma, global storage systems manufacturer
Frontier Agriculture - regional agronomy and agrochemical support
GB Potatoes - national membership organisation co-ordinating key industry initiatives
Greenwich University - research team working on post-harvest technological developments including respiration monitoring systems
HK Timbers - pallet box supplier
Hutchinsons - regional agchem supplier working with SDF Agriculture and Richard Austin Associates on agronomy trials (some of which were stored specially for this event)
McCain - multi-national potato processor
NFU Energy - advisors and technical specialists on energy use and optimisation
Potato Storage Insight - specialists on potato storage management and enhancement
Potato Storage Treatments - specialist applicator of post-harvest chemical treatments in potatoes
S&S Pugh - potato growers for multiple markets, including McCain
Restrain - producer and supplier of ethylene generation technology
SDF Agriculture - agronomy triallists and advisors to leading growers in packing and processing
UPL - multinational agchem supplier including maleic hydrazide (Fazor) and orange oil (Argos)
Welvent - suppliers of storage buildings, ventilation and cooling systems
Winters Lane Storage - South Lincolnshire grower co-operative supplying leading markets
BEST PRACTICE
Senescent sweetening: continue to monitor for optimal fry colour and avoid end of season quality drop
This month, don’t forget to keep a close eye on any stores that are still loaded. Whilst the priority is likely to be getting the next crop into the ground, remember that what’s still in store will also still need your attention at a time of year when crop condition can change quickly...
Senescent sweetening
As potatoes get older, they reach a point in storage - which varies appreciably by variety - when they can develop an irreversible form of sugar accumulation which can seriously compromise processing quality. This is known as senescent sweetening. Senescence is the tuber growing old; essentially, from a biological perspective, it has done its over-wintering job and it will be trying to convert starch to sugar to fuel new growth (even though you have stopped that growth using a chemical sprout suppressant).
It is an important change that can take place in long-term stored potatoes for processing and differs from the usual sweetening caused by low temperature. Where varieties are stored warm, senescence is reached earlier.
The factor we have to consider this year (again) is accumulated heat from what was a warm pre-harvest period last autumn. Any crop held at 8C or higher can, by this time of year, be considered at risk. Watch for a dip in fry quality, especially in any varieties where you may be ‘pushing the storage envelope’ a bit. In other words, they are varieties that would normally have been down the road by now. This might include varieties such as Arsenal, Innovator, Lady Rosetta or Pentland Dell. Regular fry testing is the key to detection – if you see a change taking place put some crop in somewhere warm and re-test in a day or two. If fry colour continues to darken, it is a good indicator of senescent sweetening. Speak to your market and be ready to unload the store quickly.
There is more on senescent sweetening below:
AHDB legacy pages summary:
Much fuller text from the University of Greenwich:
AHDB to ask Ministers to support use of residual potato levy funds to support industry projects
AHDB's board has that, following its 'wind-down' of levy payer activities in the potato sector, that remaining potato levy is used as a grant to support seven cross-industry projects. The plan is reported to have been supported by the main potato membership organisations. Any AHDB grant is subject to Ministerial approval.
The seven proposed projects, being co-ordinated through GB Potatoes and other membership organisations, are:
Potato Blight Project – addressing the significant threat of potato blight, by monitoring genetic changes and fungicide sensitivity
Aphid Monitoring Project – supports national aphid monitoring, providing industry-wide data for decision-making
Management Tools to tackle Viruses Project – this project proposes joining Horticulture Crop Protection (HCP) on behalf of the seed sector in order to access essential functions for sustaining high-grade seed production
Reputational Management Project – safeguarding the industry's reputation through strategic monitoring, proactive crisis management, centralised coordination, influencer engagement, and media outreach
Bridging Information Gap Project – provision of transparent and reliable data on potato cultivation, varieties, and national yield
CIPC Residue Monitoring Project – to support the industry, through the CIPC Residue Monitoring Group, in providing data to HSE's Chemical Regulation Division (CRD) to assess chlorpropham (CIPC) residues in stores. Failure to submit data risks rendering stores with a CIPC history unusable
Updating Nutrient Management (RB209) Project – with the industry always looking to move forward and adopt new practices there is a need to ensure revision of fertiliser recommendations reflect current technologies.
Letters of support for the proposal have been received from the National Farmers' Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, the British Potato Trade Association, the Fresh Potato Suppliers' Association and the Potato Processors' Association.
Following the sale of AHDB Potatoes' Sutton Bridge Experimental Unit, AHDB holds circa £1.8 million of potato reserves, £400k of which needs to be set aside to cover any potential residual liabilities.
The grant is proposed to be tapered over three to five years, reducing each year as GB Potatoes increases its flow of voluntary industry funding. If approved, it will comprise £1.372m over the first three years. The grant for years four and five could total £426,200, but this would be dependent on a successful review and the availability of sufficient potato funds from the residual liabilities set aside.
The next steps will be to submit a grant proposal and the AHDB board's recommendation to Ministers for their consideration.
The full AHDB news announcement is here.
SNIPPETS
Mancozeb active substance expiry date delayed by a month
UPL has just advised a slightly revised date for withdrawal of the blight control active mancozeb from that given in last month's bulletin - this has arisen due to a slight delay in the World Trade Organisation consultation timetable.
Active substance expiry date now extended to 31st May 2024 (confirmed);
Sale and supply of any plant protection products containing mancozeb to end on 31 October 2024 (proposed);
Storage, disposal and use of any plant protection products containing mancozeb to end on 31 October 2025 (proposed).
Further information can be obtained from Geoff Hailstone at UPL on 07780 707173.
Dan Hewitt joins Restrain
It has been announced that Dan Hewitt, formerly Head of Agriculture at Kettle Foods, will be joining Restrain as their new UK Business Manager with effect from May 1st. Read the full announcement here.
CIPC temporary MRL now in force
This month saw the introduction of a new temporary Maximum Residue level for CIPC from Wednesday 10 April. The new level is 0.35 mg/kg and this replaces the previous MRL of 10 mg/kg.
Why is the MRL temporary? Essentially this is because CRD would like - over time - to reduce the MRL down to the limit of detection (0.01 mg/kg). CIPC was withdrawn back in 2020 and any residues that are detected are the legacy of its use over many years. But it is normal for withdrawn products to have a very low MRL; it is the persistence of CIPC that has warranted an interim level which we can expect to be reduced over the coming years.
Due to this need there is a requirement for industry to submit CIPC residues data anonymously through the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group (CRMG), from tests carried out on crops that have been held in previously-treated stores. Any standard result from a multi-residue test will enable data to be used as long as the sample was taken after the crop had been in store for 2 months or more. The data will be used to defend the new temporary MRL.
Failure to supply test results may result in a lower MRL of 0.01 mg/kg (Limit of Quantification) being brought in. This would mean any stores which have a CIPC history can't continue to be used, so it is important to get supporting data submitted through the CRMG. Data from box stores is particularly needed. Contact CRMG Chair Adrian Cunnington at adrian@potatostorageinsight.com or call him on 07970 072260 and he will send you the information on how to send your data in.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
If you are hosting a potato industry event, please send details to admin@potatostorageinsight.com. Potato events in the coming months in the UK include:
May
Tue 14 GB Potatoes/PSI/SDF SPot Storage Day, south Lincolnshire.
See above for more information.
June
Tue 18 CUPGRA Field Day 1, Cambridge
August
Tue 6 CUPGRA Field Day 2, Cambridge
Thu 8 Potatoes in Practice 2024, James Hutton Institute, Dundee
September
Wed 4 - Thu 5 Potato Days UK hosted by Dyson Farming, Nocton, Lincoln.
November
Wed 27 CropTech, NAEC, Stoneleigh
International Events
23-26 Jun WORLD POTATO CONGRESS, Adelaide, Australia
7-12 Jul EAPR 22nd TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE, Oslo, Norway
including the 1st European Wireworm Workshop
11-12 Sep POTATO EUROPE, Villers St Christophe, Picardie, France
24-26 Nov INTERPOM '24 Kortrijk, Belgium
Remember you, or a colleague, can subscribe to Synopsis at any time by going to potatostorageinsight.com and clicking on SUBSCRIBE. We can also now take payments by credit card. Call Adrian on 01406 364795 or 07970 072260 if you have any questions.
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Synopsis is published by Potato Storage Insight Ltd., 45 Main Street, Gedney Dyke, Spalding, PE12 0AJ. UK.
© Potato Storage Insight Ltd. 2024
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