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Who would grow potatoes in their right minds? After a difficult year for many growers, there are those who have decided to stop growing because the financial risk is too high. At the same time there are others, albeit a few, coming into the industry. Just what is the allure of potato production and what are the attributes of those who remain committed to the crop?

As a farmer who straddles the England / Scotland border, Mark has expanded his potato enterprise substantially over the last few years. As one of a series of grower interviews, we try and establish his attitudes to potato production and what makes his potato enterprise a success. What emerges should have a resonance with many growers in the industry.

After increased levels of Alternaria 'early' blight in 2009, especially on susceptible varieties, Ruairidh Bain completes the second of two articles by asking the question 'How can we control the disease?'. Inevitably, we rely on fungicides to achieve control but their timing and husbandry factors are also important.

Nigel Crump has recently moved jobs and now heads up the Victorian Seed Potato Association (VicSPA). In one of an occasional series, he reflects on the consequences of the intense heat experienced in parts of Australia in the 2009 season and how crop production looks for the 2010 season. He also highlights some of the challenges that growers face down under.

In November 2009, the Potato Treater Group discussed Free Living Nematodes (FLN). This topic was an appropriate one as large responses in yield and quality of processing potatoes had been found in trials in North Norfolk as a response to controlling FLN. In this article, the occurrence and effect of FLN are reviewed and some of the unanswered questions posed.

Pesticide residues are not openly discussed as they can affect marketability. Indeed, findings by the Pesticide Residues Committee in routine surveys of produce have resulted in agrochemical manufacturers of nematicides changing label recommendations recently. This article continues a long running series in the Potato Newsletter identifying where information on a subject can be found. The answer for pesticide residues is that there is quite a lot of information available if you want to seek it out.