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Better Potato Production and Protection - SAC’s Meeting of Potato Minds in Perth

SAC News Release Ref. No: 12N01
Published: 26 Dec 2011

Note: One week earlier than usual.

The SAC Association of Potato Producers (SACAPP) Conference at Perth Racecourse on 17th January is one of those opportunities where the potato industry can consider how to improve production and margins.

With yet another wet summer potato production Scotland’s potato growers have had to face a difficult harvest and a resurgence of weather-related disease problems. Whilst the seed sector is fairly buoyant, the price of ware, grown for general consumption, is low and the viability of some enterprises is a concern. Irrespective of seed or ware, quality potatoes always sell at a good price.

Quality and profitability is the theme of the conference and the 8 presentations and workshops take a hard look at not just the issues of the day, such as diseases but challenges that lie in wait for the industry. These include coping with reduced pesticide choice and cultivations for both optimising yield and quality and meeting environmental demands.

Being held a week earlier than normal this event is the thirteenth in the series organised by SAC’s Specialist potato team. For Mathew Smallwood, the new Head of Potato Agronomy at SAC, it will be an ideal opportunity to discuss key industry issues with many of Scotland’s leading producers. He will outline proposed developments in what SAC provides for its growers and corporate members of SACAPP.

2011 was a bad year for both Powdery Scab and Blackleg. SAC’s veteran potato guru Dr Stuart Wale will join Alison Lees of the James Hutton Institute in outlining the latest research and control options. Later Stuart and Gerry Saddler of SASA (Science Advice for Scottish Agriculture) will address Blackleg and best practice approaches for keeping the bacterial disease at bay. With the EU threatening the withdrawal of approval for some pesticides Peter Brain of Bayer Crop Sciences will give his view on the way ahead.

According to the Potato Council, the numbers of growers in GB has fallen below 2500, yet production has stayed relatively constant. For those that remain in potatoes the market and opportunities are still there. But being professional producer is key to survival.

One speaker at the conference is a producer who has shown entrepreneurial spirit to solve practical problems. Andrew Mansfield is a Yorkshire farmer with a straight talking flair for innovation. He will provide an insight into new approaches to utilisation of machinery in potato production. His talk will be aptly followed by a workshop on cultivations between one of the country’s leading manufacturers and SAC’s new man at the helm, Matthew Smallwood.

The Perth Conference will be followed on February 8th 2012 with the second of the SACAPP (England) events. This will address issues of particular importance to producers south of the border group. It was launched in 2011 and this year will meet on York Racecourse.

Those wishing to attend and book their place at Perth should contact Sandra Chalmers via the details below. For futher information on the event, including the programme, take a look at the event details via the link on the right of this page.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Mrs Sandra Chalmers
Secretary
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work Ferguson Building, SAC, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn,
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711080

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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