A special potato storage workshop is being held in Montrose next week to discuss the challenges posed by the loss of active chemicals.
Bans on the use of diquat and monceren and chlorpropham (CIPC) has prompted AHDB to organise the meeting which is open to potato growers and store managers from both the seed and ware sectors.
AHDB crop storage senior scientist Glyn Harper will discuss disease control during storage and Adrian Cunnington, the AHDB’s head of storage research, will talk about store efficiency and provide an update on sprout suppression.
Greg Dawson, from Scottish Agronomy Ltd, will review last season’s desiccation trials and how the industry is finding alternative approaches without diquat use. Other speakers include Stuart Wale of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), John Hutchison of Restrain UK and Paul Overton of Frontier UK.
Claire Hodge, senior knowledge exchange manager (Arable) for AHDB, said: “Growers and store managers need to know what options will be available as the sector starts to move from conventional crop protection to IPM approaches as they plan for future harvests and storage.”
The workshop will take place at the McCains potato plant at Pugeston on Wednesday from 9.30am until 12.30pm, and lunch will be provided.
To attend visit the AHDB website at
ahdb.org.uk/events/ahdb-spring-storage-meeting-montrose
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
