TOMRA Sorting Solutions will demonstrate two of its market-leading sensor-based systems at this year’s Fruit Logistica, the leading fair for the international fresh produce trade. The company will showcase its Field Potato Sorter (FPS) and Genius optical belt sorter at the event, taking place at the Messe Berlin Fair Grounds, from 5 to 7 February. The TOMRA systems will be[Read More…]
Cultivation/Production
Potato harvest in Bulgaria was satisfying: expert
“Bulgaria’s potato harvest was satisfying,” said Ventsislav Kaymakanov, chairperson of the National Association of Potato Producers, speaking with FOCUS News Agency. “We managed to sell more than 200,000 tons of potatoes. Against a demand of 400,000-500,000 tons, these 200,000 tons produced amidst a dry year, which caused serious harm, is absolutely satisfying. I know that the export is big but[Read More…]
South Australian potato growers feel short changed on water allocations
Potato growers in south-eastern South Australia fear cuts to their water allocations will force them to cut production. Potato industry members met with State Water Minister Ian Hunter this week to talk about the Lower Limestone Coast water allocation plan, which has already been approved. More
UK: Soil health key to breaking potato yield plateau
Boosting soil nutrition and cutting compaction will be two key factors in breaking through the yield barrier that potato growers have hit over the past 20 years. Maincrop potato yields increased sharply up to the mid-1990s, but since then yields have stagnated at about 44.6t/ha, according to Potato Council data covering 1960-2013. Speaking at the recent Cambridge University Potato Growers[Read More…]
US: Potato pests, prices top concerns of potato industry
Early blight and white mold — and the yield and quality loss due to these and other potato pests — are the top concerns of many potato growers. Those are the results of the Potato Perspectives Survey that Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, N.C., conducted among attendees of the Potato Expo, Jan. 8-10, in San Antonio. Of those surveyed, 48[Read More…]
Bayer CropScience reveals insights into U.S. potato industry’s top needs for 2014
According to United States Department of Agriculture’s crop production predictions, average potato yield per acre increased during the 2013 season. In an effort to propel this upward trend into the New Year, Bayer CropScience launched its Potato Perspectives Survey during Potato Expo in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 8-10, 2014. Bayer CropScience collected insights from tradeshow attendees across the food chain[Read More…]
Managing Weed Resistance to Herbicides in the Potato Rotation
In the latest ‘Focus on Potato’ webcast, titled “Managing Weed Resistance to Herbicides in the Potato Rotation,” Dr. Jed Colquhoun, weed science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison gives users an update on herbicide-resistant weeds. Herbicide-resistant weeds pose significant economic and production challenges, particularly in specialty crops such as potatoes where weed control options are already limited. This presentation will[Read More…]
Dutch lead the way in potato cyst nematode control
Potato nematodes are now a minor pest threat in the Netherlands and one Dutch expert believes British potato growers could learn lessons from their success. Growing potatoes as a trap crop for potato cyst nematodes (PCN), using resistant varieties and rigorous testing for the industry’s most damaging pest have all led to better control. Dutch growers use more robust sampling[Read More…]
US: Industry leader cautions against over-planting potatoes
After a disastrous 2012-13 marketing year, fresh-market potato supply and demand appear more in balance for 2013-14, resulting in steady pricing and reasonable returns — but the processing sector still has the potential to affect that. “We have a balanced crop and the outlook says there’s no reason for us to give it away and there’s no reason for us[Read More…]
UK: Potato modelling system wins science award
A potato modelling system, which forecasts yield and tuber size won a Practice with Science Award at the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC). Developed by NIAB CUF, the tool can supply valuable data to the entire potato supply chain, to aid in-field and processing practices and reporting. The system’s modeling allows growers to calculate seed rates and a crop’s irrigation needs,[Read More…]
India: Uttar Pradesh Government looking to increase potato production by 35%
The government is giving a final shape to the proposed potato development Policy. Uttar Pradesh is looking to augment potato production by 35 percent to achieve 18 million tonnes (MT) of produce. Likewise, potato acreage would be increased by almost 25 percent to 6,75,000 hectares. To achieve these ambitious goals, the state government is giving final shape to the proposed[Read More…]
Managing Weed Resistance to Herbicides in the Potato Rotation
In the latest ‘Focus on Potato’ webcast, titled “Managing Weed Resistance to Herbicides in the Potato Rotation,” Dr. Jed Colquhoun, weed science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison gives users an update on herbicide-resistant weeds. Herbicide-resistant weeds pose significant economic and production challenges, particularly in specialty crops such as potatoes where weed control options are already limited. This presentation will[Read More…]
Chile: Aplicarán aeroponía para la producción de cultivos de patata en Aysén
Implementar un centro generador de semillas de patata a través de un sistema aeropónico de producción de minitubérculos en la Región de Aysén es el objetivo de una iniciativa cofinanciada por la Fundación para la Innovación Agraria (FIA), del Ministerio de Agricultura, con recursos del Fondo de Innovación para la Competitividad Regional (FIC-R). El proyecto —que tiene como asociados a[Read More…]
Vrees kwaliteitsverlies Nederlandse aardappel
In tegenstelling tot een heleboel andere sectoren is de aardappelsector crisisbestendig. Misschien kun je wel spreken van oorlogsbestendig, want ook als spanningen in landen oplopen blijft de aardappel als eerste levensbehoefte nodig. Maar om die marktpositie te behouden, moet Nederland fyto als speerpunt benoemen. Dat zei Jan Muijsers, vicevoorzitter van de Nederlandse Aardappel Organisatie (NAO) dinsdag op de Themadag Aardappelen[Read More…]
US: Potato pests, prices top concerns of potato industry
Early blight and white mold — and the yield and quality loss due to these and other potato pests — are the top concerns of many potato growers. Those are the results of the Potato Perspectives Survey that Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, N.C., conducted among attendees of the Potato Expo, Jan. 8-10, in San Antonio. Of those surveyed, 48[Read More…]
Canada: Prince Edward Island potato growers want deep well permits
Prince Edward Island potato growers are hoping the new year will bring them a gushing geyser of permits to begin irrigating fields this year from deep water wells. They say science supports it and the crops need it and without it productivity will not only decline, but lead to the depletion of P.E.I.’s $1 billion dollar potato industry. “About 10[Read More…]
Editor & Publisher: Lukie Pieterse
PULSEMASTER
URSCHEL
FPS Food Process Solutions
TOMRA FOOD
A-Insights
DCA Market Intelligence
ELEA
VOLM COMPANIES
FAM STUMABO
RESTRAIN
FOODERA TECHNOLOGIES
GRIMME
HarvestEye
DORMFRESH | 1,4GROUP
