PSI Bulletin: January 2026
- Adrian Cunnington
- Jan 23
- 7 min read
No. 01/26 SUBSCRIBER EDITION
SEED SPECIAL *** SEED SPECIAL *** SEED SPECIAL
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WISHING OUR READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to the first monthly bulletin of Synopsis from Potato Storage Insight for 2026.
As we embark on a new year, this edition is focusing specifically on seed, as growers start to make plans for the new crop, albeit with a lot of crop remaining in store from last season for many.
If you are not a regular subscriber, please visit www.potatostorageinsight.com/plans or call Adrian on 07970 072260.
PSI activity
By way of update on our current activities, I am delighted to report that our forthcoming PSI 2-day Potato Store Managers' Course, scheduled for 11/12 March, is now fully booked in spite of a 25% increase in numbers to 20 delegates.
Sadly this still means the course is over-subscribed, so we are running a waiting list which will have priority for our next courses, provisionally scheduled to be a 1-day course in August and another 2-day course in Feb/Mar 2027.
This comes on the back of a further course, organised by SAC Consulting in Perth, which I was invited to contribute to, alongside SAC's Kyran Maloney and Gavin Prentice, earlier this month. The course was held over two days and attracted 21 trainees. It included a visit to seed suppliers J&E Smillie, very kindly facilitated by Alistair & Fraser Melrose. A few photos are shown below.
pictures by SAC Consulting
Steps are also now being taken to accept bookings for stand space at our next strategic Potato Storage Day which will again be sponsored by Farm Electronics and UPL.
The event is being jointly organised by SDF Agriculture and Potato Storage Insight. It will take place, courtesy of Dyson Farming, at Leadenhall Farm, Holbeach St Marks, PE12 8HB on Wednesday 20th May from 9.30 - 13.30. Please save the date.
Indoor stands are available for storage-related businesses to book at £399 + VAT for 3m x 3m spaces with a 13A electric point. Outdoor stands are also available; prices on request. The organisers are hoping to be able to feature automated sorting and grading equipment at the show and will be pleased to hear from any businesses who are currently marketing these types of systems and would like to exhibit.
Please email adrian@potatostorageinsight.com for more information and a booking form.
The event will also feature trials updates from SDF work, new developments in storage best practice and grower-focused messaging on storage improvement.
Entry will be open to all free of charge, subject to pre-registration, and a free lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Best practice
Seed management in storage
Seed merchants and suppliers will be starting to move crops to customer's as we move into the New Year as grading gathers pace.
There are one or two important points to bear in mind when handling seed, especially in the winter months. Nothing is too complicated but there are some important points to bear in mind.
CONDENSATION CONTROL
First and foremost is condensation control. Condensation can run rife in stores at this time of year and, wherever there is free moisture present on potatoes, there is a high risk of disease development and/or sprout growth.
Seed crops, as they start to break dormancy, see a ramping up of the tubers' respiration rate. This produces localised heat which is likely to cause wetting if it comes into contact with cooler tubers or colder structures in the store.
The process can occur virtually anywhere in the storage system so always keep an eye out for those tell-tale signs of glistening or shadowing near the top of boxes or bags. Don't forget to dig down into containers to see if there is a condensation layer as it is most likely to form just below the surface than across the top.
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