AHDB Potatoes in the UK invites everyone for a week of online events exploring the work from its Strategic Potato (SPot) Farms from January 19 – 21. Online sessions hosted by AHDB will bring the growers, agronomists and researchers who have delivered field trials in 2020 together to discuss the work, deliver results and talk about what they learned.
AHDB’s SPot Farms this year grew everything from certified seed, through salads to maincrop for the fresh and processing markets. With a range of geographical locations, soil types and challenges – there is something to learn for all growers.
In fact, over the last three years of SPot events, where 94% of levy payers who attended say they improved their technical knowledge with 86% picking up something to improve productivity or efficiency.
SPot results week 2021 presentation topics
- Desiccation of seed, salad and ware crops
- Aphid control
- Irrigation
- Trap crops for PCN control
- Storage: applying Maleic Hydrazide and using natural dormancy
- Weed management
- Cultivation practices
SPot Hosts
- SPot East: Mike Shapland, James Foskett Farms – Suffolk
- SPot North: Will Gagg, RJ and AE Godfrey – North Lincolnshire
- SPot Scotland: Jim Reid, Milton of Mathers Farm – Montrose
Read more about host farmers here: Strategic Potato Farm pages
Schedule
Jan 19, 2021 5:00AM–6:00AM
Desiccation – how effective are Diquat alternatives for potato crops
Results from the 2020 crop and previous season’s research, with lead researcher Mark Stalham, before a discussion with SPot Hosts, from across the country.
Jan 19, 2021 8:00AM–9:00AM
PCN: Deceiving potato pests with trap crops
Results will aim to develop good establishment for trap crops when drilled after cereal harvest. Including date of drilling, weed control and drilling depth.
Jan 19, 2021 11:00AM–12:30PM
Weed control with fewer actives
Data on how to replace lost chemistry. Drone footage of this year’s crop from SPot East, and chat with Agronomist Graham Tomalin and Host Mike Shapland
Jan 20, 2021 8:00AM–9:00AM
Which approach to potato irrigation? What is the most effective use of water when for irrigating your potato crop to meet high supermarket quality standards? Results from SPot North trials.
Jan 20, 2021 11:00AM–12:30PM
Resilience through research
Tomorrow’s world. AHDB’s long term research plans and projects and how they intent to tailor them to your potato agronomy needs.
Jan 21, 2021 5:00AM–6:00AM
Reducing the threat of aphids in a potato crop
Reflecting on the 2020 trials at SPot East and Scotland, AHDB will discuss what can be done differently in 2021 to minimise the risk of aphids to a potato crop?
Jan 21, 2021 8:00AM–9:00AM
Managing sprout suppression without CIPCA
HDB’s Storage Research team share the results from the SPot Farm trials looking at the dormancy of 40 popular varieties.
Jan 21, 2021 11:00AM–12:30PM
Land preparation for planting potatoes: cultivations & seed placement
An independent panel will discuss findings on where reductions in costs or increase to yield can be made in cultivation, seed spacing and nitrogen nutrition.
Source: AHDB. Full information and registration form here
