Potato Review

CONTENTS www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW MARCH/APRIL 2023 3 Editor’s letter IN our biostimulants feature this issue, we share advice on how to use biostimulants to combat frost stress and look at the latest trial results of a new product containing humic acids. e discovery of a fungicide-resistant strain of blight in Denmark has sparked a warning for UK growers and we include two separate features giving advice on prevention andmanagement. New independent research provides an insight for tackling free-living nematodes and spraing damage to tubers when they transmit tobacco rattle virus and we cover this on page 18, while seasonal issues and considerations are covered in our spring crop health feature. is month’s soil health feature highlights how sheep are helping to improve one grower’s soil. Elsewhere we have some tips to help growers decide irrigation strategies and reduce the incidence of diseases such as common scab and powdery scab. On the people side, one grower shares with us how he diversi ed frompig farming, converting an existing building into a potato store, and in our Reader Pro le we interviewDuane Hill, who took over as Managing Director of Haith Group following the semi-retirement of Nigel Haith. We also have several new agtech innovations to share with you, along with news on how the international markets are faring. And while we’re mentioning innovation, do you have any experiences or recommendations you’d like to share with us? is is just one of the new categories just announced for the National Potato Industry Awards . Turn to page 15 for details of this and the other categories. We want to hear from as many people in the potato industry as possible – this is the perfect opportunity to share good practice and reward those who’ve stood out or gone the extra mile. Get your thinking caps on! Stephanie Cornwall Editor News round-up 04 Pest genomes data 08 Irrigation strategy 32 Biostimulants 21 Soil health 11 Grower insight 12 National potato industry awards 2023 14 Nematicide advice 16 Free-living nematodes 18 Varieties 24 Blight control 26 Cupgra insights 37 Crop management 44 Appointments 57 International markets 48 Machinery 58 Agtech 59 Spring crop health 61 Professional pro le 54