No. 9/24 SUBSCRIBER EDITION: please go to potatostorageinsight.com/subscribe to sign up as a Synopsis subscriber.
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome. You are reading the September edition of Synopsis, your monthly potato storage update from Potato Storage Insight.
This month has seen a new event in the potato calendar and the UK Potato Days working demonstration held at Lincoln on 4/5 September certainly grabbed the attention of many judging by the strong level of attendance, particularly on day one.
And, as we head into a new storage season, after a couple of tough years for many potato store managers, you'd be justified in expecting an easier journey over the coming months. Time will tell, but we have to be ready for the next challenge. Reports from the field suggest there's a high degree of variability across crops around the country and, given some already exceptional weather, there are a variety of issues to cope with for some…
Best practice
A NEW STORAGE SEASON BEGINS…
Bruising risk (see also Technical Insight below) is a major concern with crops seemingly exhibiting a high degree of susceptibility to the problem. Recent rain where it has been received [in moderation] will have helped to improved the level of cushioning on the harvester, but this needs to be extended right through to box filling or the store elevator; minimising drops is crucial to limit the problem.
In some parts of the country, notably the Midlands and north west, there have been excessive and, in some cases, unprecedented levels of rain in recent days that mean any crops affected will need to be assessed very carefully for their suitability for storage. Having adequate drying capability will be paramount – forced ventilation is always the best for removing excess moisture either in bulk storage or in a positively ventilated box storage setup. Don’t try to store waterlogged or ‘rained on’ potatoes.
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