Perfecting Potatoes Together - Updates from the field
31.10.2023
We caught up with two growers in Scotland to find out what is happening in the field this autumn.
Hugh Black and his family farm at Backboath near Forfar, growing cereals and potatoes. Maintaining and protecting soil health across the farm is important to Hugh where he operates a 6-year rotation and uses precision agricultural techniques to ensure inputs are efficiently used. Commenting on potatoes this season, Hugh said,
“We started off with a tricky spring due to the broken weather; the combination of the market outlook and potato stock levels, really helped boost the spot price market, sadly, though, most contracts were signed pre-spring planting. As a positive, any overage above the contract should achieve healthier pricing than the contract prices.”
“That said, harvest has become a bit of headache in Scotland. Many growers still have anything between five and 100 acres left to harvest. We just need the rain to stop, the frost to wait, the wind to blow, and quality not to diminish. So not too much to ask, really!”
Graeme Renton and his brother, Mark, farms in Dunbar, near East Lothian. They grow potatoes for processing, primarily Markies, Maris Piper for chips and Lady Claire for crisps. Reflecting on the season, Graeme said,
“We had a mixed season beginning with a wet spring for planting, but most of the potatoes went in the ground in good conditions. Then we experienced a dry summer which meant lots of irrigation but a slightly reduced risk of blight.
“This was followed by a wet October, although we luckily finished lifting before the worst of the heavy rain. We have seemed to have missed the horrendous weather experienced in other parts of the country.”
“October doesn't seem to be the windy, dry, cold month it was when I was growing up! The trade for chipping potatoes is quieter since covid, but prices seem to be holding at the moment and quality looks ok too. Yields have been variable, if not a little disappointing but we look forward.”
Perfecting Potatoes Together Podcast
In our latest podcast, we speak to BASF Campaign Manager Luke Pollard. During this short conversation we talk about his journey from science to farming, participating in the MDS graduate scheme, his time working on digital solutions with BASF to his role now, supporting the speciality crop sector, including potatoes.
He also shares an insight into some of the exciting events hosted over the summer, the new liquid tuber treatment Honesty®, the British Potato Awards, and, what he gets up to away from work.
You can listen to that episode north_east here