PSI Bulletin: July 2026

No. 7/26 SUBSCRIBER EDITION: please go to potatostorageinsight.com/subscribe to sign up

Welcome to another edition of Synopsis, PSI's July update of news, technical content and latest developments in potato storage.

The hot weather that has persisted over recent weeks has already had a significant impact on development of this season's crop with a huge range of responses reported. Generally, there has been a dearth of rain in most regions and whilst crops were showing some resilience in June, the last two or three weeks have hit hard and crops are starting to show significant signs of stress where water has not been available.

Here are some shots of crops we have taken in the last few days...

Crop 'on the turn' on the edge of moss land near Ormskirk, Lancs

Contrasting colours of processing potatoes in adjacent, unirrigated fields in south Lincolnshire: one still looking very strong, the other, later planted crop decimated by a lack of water

There's also a mixed picture out of store as there continue to be reports of fresh crops being held in the hope of a late sale and an improvement in long-overdue, demand for old crop has been suggested which might tempt some to hold on to crops towards their birthday? But, at the same time, processing crops which are unable to find a home are being dumped.

The lack of rain is however really hitting the 2026 crop hard where irrigation is restricted or unavailable and it is already difficult to see where the yield to fill stores this autumn will come from if the current rate of crop senescence continues.

PSI ACTIVITY

Adrian Cunnington spoke at the recent CUPGRA Summer Members Day to review some of the issues of relevance to the 2025/26 storage season, particularly in relation to the hot weather conditions we experienced in 2025 (and seem to be experiencing to a similar, if not worse, degree) in 2026. There is more about this topic in Technical Insight below.

The CUPGRA Summer Meeting on 21 July was well attended and featured both field-based and indoor discussions of progress on a wide range of trials and industry activity

Other recent activity at PSI has been focusing on our joint trials with SDF Agriculture & Certis Belchim to look at MH uptake and activity in crops that will be reported on at next year's Potato Storage Day.

We've been putting tents into fields (as shown below) to create MH treated and untreated comparisons across four sites. Further details of the work will be released at a later date around next spring's event that will be held on Wednesday 19th May.

Spray protection tents erected as part of an MH trial in a crop of cv Kingsman near Holbeach

PSI is available to provide guidance and advice on all aspects of potato storage; if you think we can help you, call Adrian Cunnington on 07970 072260 or email adrian@potatostorageinsight.com.

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