Animals
Business
Crops
Environment
Food
General
Horticulture
Livestock
Machinery
Markets
Politics
Login
 
 
 
Submit to register and subscribe
(72,60 € / year)
 
I forgot my password

 14 aug 2012 11:17 

Dundee conference hears Scotland's potato farmers harvest fears


Scotland's potato farmers are predicting one of the worst harvests in recent years.
Crops are expected to be down by as much as 50% in places due to a combination of heavy rain and little sunshine.

Producers have said it has been one of the most challenging seasons in living memory.

The warning came as a major conference looking at the latest developments in potato farming opened in Dundee.

Some 700 farmers have gathered at the Potatoes in Practice conference at Balruddery Farm. The event is Britain's largest field-based potato industry event.

The site is used by the James Hutton Institute to put research into practice, and gives farmers the chance to see the latest developments first hand.

Balruddery manager Ewan Cauldwell said: "It's been fairly bad, we've faced the same challenges as any of the other growers in the area.

"Right from planting it's been very wet, we've had a lack of sunshine, there's been a lack of temperature, the disease issues have been particularly bad, the pressures on disease have been bad, the ground conditions have been wet and the opportunity to get on control these diseases has been challenging in itself."

He said the season had been challenging for other crops as well not just potatoes, but the main concern for growers was just how bad harvests were going to be.
 
 



  Newsflash
 
Analysis of the Nutritional Composition of Ready-to-Use Meat Alternatives in BelgiumLees meer
 
 
Coceral Crop Forecast June 2024Lees meer
 
 
Leadership transition SESVanderHaveLees meer
 
 
Commission clarifies support for farmers in case of exceptional weather events Lees meer
 
 
A European Action Plan to combat late blight in potatoes Lees meer
 
 
FlowerTrials® 2024 Lees meer