PSI Bulletin: Jul 23
No. 7/23 SUBSCRIBER EDITION: please go to potatostorageinsight.com/subscribe to sign up
It's time for the July edition of Synopsis, PSI's monthly update of news, technical content and information the latest developments in potato storage, to hit the streets.
In this month's Best Practice slot, we will be looking at the critical issue of maleic hydrazide application for all those looking for good quality sprout control in storage. Our July Technical Insight talks about potato boxes... and we have a comprehensive events listing at the end of this bulletin.
Since we wrote our June update, the weather has taken a marked turn towards cooler and showery, if not stormy, conditions so overall crop growth should benefit.
Most long term stores are now empty and, if you have yet to find time, it's a good opportunity to review last season's store performance and a chance to attend to some of those persistent wrinkles - such as faulty temperature probes or dirty fridge coils - that need dealing with before next season. It's the right time to get fridges serviced and cleaning is also a key activity that can be done before (cereal) harvest gets underway. In addition to general removal of debris, vacuuming out stores to remove dust and reduce the spore loading in stores that will be holding seed or pre-pack crops is always time well spent.
POTATO STORAGE INSIGHT (PSI) ACTIVITY
We've been pretty busy in the last few weeks, undertaking store audits and attending a number of different grower meetings which have been held around the east of the country with more to follow a little further afield in a few weeks' time.
GB Potatoes roadshow
The GB Potatoes workshop held in Wisbech on 20 June was the first real opportunity for growers to get together to get some technical advice and to support this important effort to set up some cross-industry representation to Government and other key stakeholders.
New research stores launch
On 11 July, Adrian was present (below) at the launch of the new ADAS/CHAP experimental stores at Boxworth near Cambridge, which represent the first steps in re-establishing some potato storage research capability after the AHDB Sutton Bridge meltdown in 2021. The consortium behind the initiative is going to be known as Crop Storage & Postharvest Solutions (CSPS) and, in addition to ADAS and CHAP, brings on board additional technical backing from the likes of the National Resources Institute (NRI), James Hutton Institute, SRUC and PSI.
Also present at the Boxworth event was Dr Richard Colgan of NRI demonstrating their new Storage Control Systems P-Pod research monitoring units for placement in commercial or trial stores. The 'pods' allow close monitoring of potato performance, including respiration, in storage and have been developed from the 'Safe Pod' system first trialled at NRI and Sutton Bridge.
The stores 'launched' at Boxworth are complemented by a further six of the 4 tonne capacity stores that have been built for CSPS at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee (pictured below, right). The stores in Scotland will be managed as part of the Advanced Plant Health Growth Centre.
The facilities at all the CSPS sites are currently being tested before being used 'in anger' for research and trials.
Anyone wishing to avail themselves of the new storage research capability should contact Faye Ritchie at ADAS or Derek Stewart at JHI in the first instance.
Hutchinsons Potato Day
Another event which attracted a good turnout was the Hutchinson's Potato Demonstration Day, held in conjunction with Simon Faulkner of SDF Agriculture, at AH Worth's farm at Holbeach Hurn in south Lincolnshire on 13 July.
The site is being run to look at issues that not only affect potato growers on the Lincolnshire silts, but are common to growers across a range of soil types. The event demonstrated a wide range of new varieties and Simon spoke about their tolerance and resistance to PCN, with Darryl Shailes and colleagues from Hutchinsons contributing on their response to post-emergence weed control. It is hoped that it may be possible to store the produce from the plots through to spring 2024.
Martyn Cox of Blackthorn Arable also gave an update on wireworm, long regarded as a pest of potatoes grown in grass rotations, but now an increasing problem across all rotations.
BEST PRACTICE for July/August
If you'd like to discuss how well your store is working and to get advice on how you develop your storage strategy or how a particular store can be further optimised, please get in touch with Adrian Cunnington on 07970 072260.
MALEIC HYDRAZIDE
Late July moving into August is a critical time for considering maleic hydrazide application.
Most of our post-harvest sprout control options have little or no residual activity against sprouting – this is the control you get between applications of contact products like spearmint or orange oil.
This residual element can be so key for long term storage and therefore the role of MH cannot be underestimated in the "post-CIPC era". Conditions this year are expected to make its use considerably easier than last season.
MH is available as a a number of products eg Fazor, Crown, Itcan etc for application as a spray treatment. It is important to follow individual labels for your choice of product.
Application guidelines issued by Certis Belchim for its Crown MH product state that:
MH is a large molecule and needs time to be absorbed by the plant's leaves.
It is important to avoid hot and dry conditions where the spray solution dries very quickly, or rain showers where solution can be diluted.
MH should be applied when temperatures are below 25ºC, and no rain is forecast or irrigation scheduled, for at least 12 hours (and ideally 24 hours).
Further guidance
Water volume is important with maleic hydrazide as good uptake by the plant is key to its effectiveness. Best results are achieved with volumes of at least 400L/ha. This helps to keep the leaf wetter for longer and increases the uptake of MH into the plant.
Experience shows that best timing is 3-5 weeks prior to haulm destruction, when 80% of the tubers are greater than 25mm in diameter.
Relative humidity has also been shown to be an important factor – ideally it should be above 75% and unlikely to fall for a few hours after spraying, so late afternoon and evening applications may be beneficial.
Only when the correct conditions prevail should it be applied, even if that means waiting until later in the application window.
PLANNING FOR 2024/25 STORAGE
Now is the time to be starting your planning for storage in 2024/25
'Why's that?' you may ask. But in many potato production systems, now is when you start talking about or even inspecting seed with your supplier for 2024 planting. The decisions you make now will determine what crops you have next year and what you will need to store through to spring/summer 2025.
Having at least one eye on that long term plan is important so that you select the right varieities for not only your markets but also what you have storage capability for. Mixed varieties in store don't work so well in the post-CIPC era. We can expect better performance with dedicated temperature regimes and variety-specific management and therefore it makes sense to try to plan production to fit the stores available. Better that than having the "tail wag the dog" and ending up with a giant compromise on storage performance and quality that, ultimately, eats into the bottom line.
TECHNICAL INSIGHT
BS7611 POTATO BOXES
What is BS7611 all about? It is a British standard, introduced in 1992, that covers the specification for potato storage boxes. It is particularly focused on mechanical handling as it specifies dimensions and design requirements for boxes, together with prototype tests and their related performance requirements. It is specific to potato boxes 'with a maximum filled weight of 1200kg, designed for handling by conventional forklift trucks, with or without emptying mechanisms'.
The standard, in addition to providing general requirements of construction (note that it does not specify the construction materials), provides performance needs for:
bowing resistance
deck stiffness
diagonal end racking
diagonal side racking
There are three different classes of box, centred around stacking height, but defined as:
class 4 high: not suitable for frequent use in systems that involve tipping full boxes unless clamped to stop racking
class 6 high: not suitable for frequent use in systems that involve tipping full boxes unless clamped to minimise racking
class 8 high: suitable for constant use in most handling operations
Most BS7611 accredited boxes in production today are made to meet the class 8 standard.
It might be argued that the standard is in need of an update as the industry has moved on in recent years to develop bigger capacity boxes for some handling systems that are not covered within the BS7611 standard. There does not seem to be a simple mechanism for making this happen that PSI can find; do you know otherwise?
It is also important to remember that a box stamped with BS7611 shows it was built to an approved design but does not, in itself, confirm that any individual box is safe to use. Indeed, the very nature of timber boxes is that they degrade over time so require regular checking of key components like the corner posts and nail integrity to ensure they are safe to use and suitable for stacking. A programme of continual replacement is recommended for large enterprises to manage capital costs and to ensure box stocks are kept in a sound and suitable condition for use. Failure to do so can result in some catastrophic consequences, including box collapses (below) or even structural wall damage.
Suppliers of potato boxes, built to comply with BS7611, include:
Abergavenny Boxes, Abergavenny (Monmouthshire)
United Box, Airlie (Angus)
HK Timbers, Gainsborough (Lincolnshire)
Pearson Packages, Boston (Lincolnshire)
Rowlinsons, Nantwich (Cheshire) and Thetford (Norfolk)
COLORADO BEETLE ALERT
Two separate discoveries of Colorado Potato Beetle, which is a quarantine pest in the UK, have been announced recently.
On 11 July, a CPB larva was discovered in Kent and, subsequently on 14 July, a single adult beetle (example pictured below) was found in Hampshire.
Growers, in particular, are being encouraged to remain vigilant for signs of the pest. The beetle is bright yellow or orange with black stripes and is usually between 8.5-11.5mm in length and 3mm in width. Its larvae are a reddish brown in colour, round and globular, and up to 15mm in length.
Defra's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have issued a bulletin asking for vigilance. It is obligatory to report any further sightings to APHA under the Plant Health Regulations. For England and Wales, Tel: 0300 1000 313 or email: planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk
SNIPPETS
Pepsico goes green for potato transport to Leicester factory
Logistics Manager reports:
Pepsico has introduced an initiative which will save 2,650 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The company has announced that transport of all potatoes into its Walkers Crisps factory in Leicester is now entirely powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This follows the introduction of HVO as a replacement for diesel in the HGVs transporting produce for two of Pepsico’s brands, Walkers Crisps and Quaker Oats, last year. Working in partnership with its agricultural logistics service provider, AB Texel, Pepsico says 800,000 litres of HVO fuel will be used to replace diesel for around 1.6 million miles of truck journeys to transport ~240,000 tonnes of potatoes processed at its Leicester site each year.
Restrain Company launch new podcast series
Ethylene company Restrain have recently unveiled a new podcast series designed to inform potato growers and store managers on optimal crop treatment with the compound during storage. The first edition of the podcast features ex-Sutton Bridge researcher, now Restrain’s Technical Manager, Adrian Briddon. He talks about the benefits of Restrain’s Accumulator treatment for seed potatoes.
Award deadlines
There is still time to enter the Caroline Drummond Celebrating and Communicating Farming Excellence Award. The closing date is 31 July. See more here or visit the Institute of Agricultural Management website.
The National Potato Industry Awards also remain open for nominations for their event which takes place in Harrogate in November. The entry deadline is 31 August.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Potato events in the coming weeks and months include:
July
Thu 27 Whole Crop Marketing Potato Day, head for Ellerker Lodge Garden
Centre, South Cave, Yorkshire. HU15 2DD - see our May bulletin or email
info@wholecropmarketing.co.uk
August
Tue 1 CUPGRA Members' Day, Cambridge
Sutton Hall Estate, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
What 3 Words: ///crockery.yawned.mint takes you to the site entrance.
Email becca.cook@agrii.co.uk giving name, email & company to register.
Speakers include Nick Winmill, James Wrinch and Graham Tomalin
Free and open to all
Thu 3 CUPGRA Potato Field Day
Eastoft Grange Farm, nr Scunthorpe, DN17 4PL. Starts 0930. Ends 1230.
What 3 Words: ///sugar.defensive.twinkling
Booking essential: https://www.niab.com/potato-field-day-lincs-3-aug-23
NIAB field day offering latest updates on CUPGRA-funded research.
Free and open to all
Thu 10 Potatoes in Practice, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
The largest field-based potato event in the UK will be demonstrating a
wide range of field trials with an array of trade stands alongside. Register
your attendance in advance via this link.
Wed 30/Thu 31 Caythorpe Potato Breeders' Demo Day, Caythorpe, Lincs, NG32 3HE
Multiple breeder presence at a major field demonstration of varieties...
September
Mon 4 - Fri 8 EAPR Pathology & Pests Section Meeting, France www.eapr.net
to coincide with
Wed 6 & Thu 7 POTATO EUROPE Field Demonstration, Tournai, Belgium
November
Sun 12 - Sat 18 AGRITECHNICA, Hannover, Germany
World-leading trade fair for agricultural machinery
Wed 22/Thu 23 BP2023, Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK
Biennial industry-wide exhibition and knowledge transfer opportunity for everything to do with potatoes. Seminar programme includes storage.
December
Tue 12 - Wed 13 CUPGRA Conference, Cambridge. Save the date!
2024 International Potato Events
10-11 Jan POTATO EXPO, Austin, Texas, USA
5-7 Jun WORLD POTATO CONGRESS, Adelaide, Australia
7-12 Jul EAPR 22nd TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE, Oslo, Norway
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. 2023
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