Growers approach the 2022 potato harvest surrounded by uncertainty. Costs for many inputs have jumped – fertiliser, electricity, diesel the most significant. There is no obvious sign that they will get cheaper any time soon. At the same time, the demise of BPC/AHDB Potatoes means that growers are much less aware of market conditions in the UK. How many hectares have been planted? Is the area sharply down, or have growers taken a counter-cyclical view and increased their acreage? How many growers have left the industry completely? And in a season which has seen crops held in store for longer than usual (the result of a series of unexpected movement delays), how much 2021 crop remains in store with a (fading) hope of movement.
With extreme heat and absence of rainfall in the eastern counties and the south-east of England, we can expect to see more crops breaking dormancy in the field this year than is usual. Biox-M will still play a part in the management of crops in store, which have broken dormancy prematurely in the field. There will be an increased urgency to dry and cure these crops, and to cool them to an even temperature, and to get them into a stable condition for treatment. This can be expected to take between 7 and 14 days depending on variety and store quality. A first application of Biox-M can be expected to control any early sprouting, and crops should then be treated as normal.
Fog distribution during application is very important; it should be as even as possible through the store, and particularly through boxes. Thus, fan speed and intermittent fan operation during fogging should be considered. Fan running time and speed during the closed period after treatment can be reduced in almost all circumstances if a really good, even distribution of fog (and then vapour) has been achieved during fogging. Fan operation during the closed period serves to ensure that an even distribution of vapour remains so. Intermittent and slow speed is sufficient. Many growers are also extending the closed period, if store and crop conditions allow.
Two years on from the demise of CIPC in Europe, it seems that the rest of the world will play catch-up. End users in North America and Australia are increasingly uncomfortable and looking for alternatives. Biox-M is well established in European markets, with growers increasingly confident in using a product, which has seen a step-change in store management. The focus for many store-keepers and growers has turned to fine tuning store management to extend the return interval, to reduce the number of applications and to understand the fine points of detail, which will enhance economic performance.
And, in spite of regular exhortation to leave stores closed for at least 48 hours (and 72 is better still) following treatment, we still come across incidences of stores with doors left open shortly after treatment. Biox-M is a volatile product, which will escape if given an opportunity to do so.
Biox-M:
- Is a naturally occurring product, in widespread use in the food industry,
- Is approved for use on organic potato crops,
- Has no harvest interval or MRL,
- Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage,
- And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes,
- Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development when crop is processed,
- Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated,
- And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and everycustomer; effectively carbon neutral.
Biox-M is the only 100% natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes, find out more by contacting Nick or by going to Juno Plant Protection.
