Potato Review

CONTENTS www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2020 3 Editor’s letter If there’s one thing you can rely on in the UK, it’s the unpredictability of its weather. e destructive winds and colossal rainfall we’re still seeing is testament to that. Up in Yorkshire and Scotland, I know a few of you have also had to contend with snow outbreaks at well, while here in Lincolnshire we’ve just seen the odd spattering. Just like the environmental climate, the current economic climate is also pretty unpredictable so contingency planning is key, and we’re always interested to hear any advice our readers can share, drawing on their own experiences. We’ve been out and about a lot since publishing our last issue in January. A trip to the SPot Farm North to see what results were being shared, another to the AHDB’s storage information event in Escrick, as well as a number of industry conferences and a roundtable looking at biological alternatives and the future of our soils have made for some interesting insights to share with you in this issue and the next. In the midst of this, we’ve kept abreast of news from the industry, from new and updated technology to updates in machinery and trial results from research labs in both the public and private sectors, which are ongoing. Let’s hope by the time you manage to sit down and read your copy, there’s a break in the clouds and a little sun manages to peep through! 10 CUPGRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Storage issues, GM and legislation impacts are considered. NEWS: News round-up 04 37 46 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE: We interiew Je Fieldsend. MACHINERY: Most recent developments INDUSTRY UPDATES 32 VIRUS UPDATE SPOT FARM NORTH: Farm trial results. 26 BLIGHT: The next stage 23 Fertilisation update Agronomists examine a product sourced from the North Sea. 18 Stephanie Cornwall Editor AHDB ON THE SPOT 42 44