Potato farmers in Lower Saxony, Germany, start the potato harvest with expectations of an average yield. After a difficult growing period with a lot of rain, farmers now have to cope with heat and drought. “With this hot weather, potatoes are too warm to store immediately,” states Thorsten Riggert of Landvolk in Lower Saxony. The quality of the harvest is[Read More…]
Storage
New warehouse to double Monte Vista Potato Growers’ capacity
The new 15,000-square-foot warehouse and new line at Monte Vista Potato Growers will double the grower-shipper’s capabilities, according to General Manager Jason Tillman. In mid-August construction was well under way, and Tillman said the building will be ready by Oct. 15 and the first loads of this year’s crop. “Our harvest will start in late August or early September,” Tillman said, noting[Read More…]
North America: Top 5 potato storage diseases
Potato growers are familiar with the expression ‘a potato storage is not a hospital’, which reflects the simple truth that diseased potatoes going into storage are not going to get better. It is essential that growers carefully monitor potatoes going into storage and keep a close eye on storage conditions to keep infections from spreading to maintain the value of[Read More…]
UK: Potato sprout suppressant limits cut again this autumn
The maximum limit for a key sprout suppressant has been further reduced for the coming spud storage season, farmers are being warned. This reduction is part of the gradual annual reduction in CIPC (chlorpropham) rates in order to prevent further cases of it being found in fresh and processed potatoes, thus securing its future use. CIPC is a vital tool for the potato[Read More…]
Potato Storage: Hotel or Hospital?
The U.S. potato industry estimates losses during storage at right around 7 percent. Much of this is due to lost water, which is one of the reasons that high relative humidity (RH) is recommended for storing potatoes. Most weight loss also occurs during the first two weeks in storage, before the tuber skin has completely matured. Unfortunately, little to none of[Read More…]
UK: Potato Council report on ethylene storage technique released
Ten years ago a vision arose in England of storing potatoes and onions without chemicals. A group of growers has studied, tested and perfected this new storage technique with ethylene gas. Now this technique is well known in potato and onion storage under the name Restrain. This technique was always promoted with restraint for the storage of processing potatoes –[Read More…]
Tolsma-Grisnich Group acquires majority share in Farm Electronics Limited
Farm Electronics Limited, the UK Grantham based crop storage engineering specialist has merged with Tolsma-Grisnich, a leading Dutch specialist recognised as a pioneer and specialist in the field of efficient storage and primary processing of potatoes, onions and carrots. The newly merged business will open up a more extensive state-of-the-art product mix from both companies for potato, onion and vegetable[Read More…]
UK chipping potato producer installs Dutch technology
Following the successful installation of Omnivent’s suction ventilation system, PJ Lee and Sons renovated their stores with the OmniCuro control system for 9 box stores (12.200 tons) at the Sutton Gault Pack House facility and have retrofitted the control systems into their other outlying stores. PJ Lee and Sons have been in business for around 60 years. The company consists of[Read More…]
Biotechnology can enhance post-harvest quality
I recently toured several supermarkets to see how the stored potato crop was looking in retail displays. The first thing I noticed was the organic potato sprouts, ranging from peepers in russets to inch-long sprouts in some fingerling potatoes. That’s not an indictment of the organic industry. It’s just a fact that it is difficult to store organic potatoes as long as[Read More…]
UK chipping potato producer installs Dutch technology
Following the successful installation of Omnivent’s suction ventilation system, PJ Lee and Sons renovated their stores with the OmniCuro control system for 9 box stores (12.200 tons) at the Sutton Gault Pack House facility and have retrofitted the control systems into their other outlying stores. PJ Lee and Sons have been in business for around 60 years. The company consists[Read More…]
2016 triennial EAPR Section Post Harvest meeting
The 2016 triennial EAPR Section Post Harvest meeting will be held on the 29-30th June 2016 in Wageningen, The Netherlands. The meeting will cover different aspects of post-harvest research in potatoes, with an emphasis on relevance to the industry. Themes will range from diagnosis and detection of disease, dormancy and sprout control, quality management and technology in post-harvest management. The program will[Read More…]
Video: Techniques to control potato storage rots
During AHDB Potatoes in the UK’s Storage Forum 2016, Simon Alexander of SA Consulting presented on optimal store management techniques to control potato rots in store, and ultimately maximize longevity of potato stocks. Watch the video of this presentation on YouTube.
Video: Ethylene – Its potential for use alongside CIPC in potato storages
In this video, Dr Glyn Harper (Potato Pathologist at Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research in the UK) presents on the promising findings from AHDB Potatoes’ project ‘R464: Ethylene for Processing’, showing the potential for use of ethylene in combination with CIPC as an effective sprout control strategy for potatoes. Watch the video on YouTube
Tong Engineering presents latest potato handling equipment
Tong Engineering, a vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, will be exhibiting at the UK’s largest arable event, Cereals, to present its latest equipment range for 2016. Exhibiting at this year’s event – held on June 15th & 16th – Tong will have the latest model of its Storemaker hopper cleaner machine on stand 258. The Storemaker is suitable for multi-site use;[Read More…]
US: Potato researcher of the year named
Jiwan Palta, a professor in the horticulture department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was awarded researcher of the year by the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association during the organization’s annual education conference in February. Palta was recognized for his numerous contributions to the Wisconsin potato industry, including his research on the beneficial impact of calcium nutrition on potato-tuber quality.[Read More…]
UK: Potato store technology puts control in the hands of the grower
A Norfolk potato grower said a pioneering new storage technology can help reduce his energy costs – and meet the strict quality demands of the crisp manufacturer he supplies. The new SmartStor controller, developed by Crop Systems, based in Gimingham near Mundesley, won a national certificate of merit for innovation at the LAMMA farm machinery show in January. It continually monitors all[Read More…]
Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research: Storage Bulletin – December 2015
At this time of the year it may be nice to receive one or two surprises for Christmas but a store going wrong is not one of them… So it is important to put arrangements in place to ensure that crops are checked thoroughly during the holiday period. Reports continue to be received on the prevalence of wet rots, especially in[Read More…]
Potato storage rots likely this winter
This fall might be a tough one for a few Manitoba potato growers battling rots like pink eye, bud-end decay, late blight and leak in storage. Generally, these diseases are present in storages but the levels are not abnormally high, so a caution is warranted. According to Vikram Bisht, Manitoba’s provincial plant pathologist, leak and late blight infected tubers have already[Read More…]
US: Field trials of cold-storable potatoes complete
Calyxt, a Minnesota-based company focusing on developing healthy food products to benefit both consumers and farmers, announced that it has completed the first field trials in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan of its cold-storable potato. A significant amount of potatoes harvested each fall are cold-stored to ensure a continuous supply throughout the year. During cold storage, reducing sugars can accumulate in the[Read More…]
New innovations in potato storage technology
To protect their investment, it’s important for growers to keep on top of the latest innovations in ventilation, humidification and spout control when storing their potato crops. Spud Smart magazine in Canada talked to some industry experts about new equipment, products and technologies aimed at ensuring storage success. Ashley Gorman, vice-president of sales at P.E.I.-based Gorman Controls, believes the most important[Read More…]
UK: Norfolk firm’s agri-tech investment in potato store monitoring
A Norfolk crop store manufacturer has launched a software innovation which allows remote access to control systems – and improves safety for lone farm-workers. Crop Systems, based in Gimingham near Mundesley, specialises in the design and installation of storage controllers and equipment for the agricultural industry. Its new SmartStor controller will give users access to the control settings from any[Read More…]
How Chemistry Can Rot Potatoes, And Also Save Them
A bacteria that infects potatoes gets its job done with the help of chemical weaponry, a new study shows. The microbe secretes molecules that allow it to survive in air while also bumping off competing bacteria. It’s yet another example of the powerful chemistry happening in nature every day. In the future, this find could help farms save potatoes from rotting,[Read More…]
US: Research site boosts spuds nationwide
Unless you’re part of the U.S. potato industry, you’ve probably never heard of the U.S. Department of Agriculture research facility in East Grand Forks, Minn. But to people who work in the industry, the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Potato Research Worksite is a unique, invaluable resource that helps develop better chips, fries and dehydrated flakes through improved storage and processing.[Read More…]
Netherlands: alarming increase in rot
At first it seemed as though water-rot was occurring in a diagonal swath through the Southwest of the Netherlands. Now it is known that the rot has been found in other places as well, as a result of large rain storms. We are also seeing rot in places where less rain has fallen. The intensity of the rainfall has most[Read More…]
Controlling silver scurf
This common disease that causes unsightly blemishes on potatoes can be a headache for fresh market producers. What options are available to growers for controlling silver scurf? One of the more pervasive tuber diseases in North America, silver scurf has been increasing in incidence and severity in recent decades. This has resulted in economic losses that have been most clearly[Read More…]
Editor & Publisher: Lukie Pieterse
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