Course Title :

Course Location :

Course Duration :

Certifying Body :

Potato Enterprise

Local Sites - Please contact us for details

1 day

The Training Association

Course Summary :

Session 1 Potato storage in 2007/2008

Date: 25.10.07
Venue: potato store (Hoyles or Winters Lane)
Potato storage in 2007/2008:

• What’s the quality like?

• Is there any black leg and or blight in there?

• How do we control those rots?

• When will the chits appear?

• Using ethylene?

• Can we do anything to improve/ maintain fry quality?

• How long will they keep?

Session 2 Planning for the 2008 crop and a market update

Date: 6.12.2007
Venue: Warm comfortable pub, farm office / board room?
Planning for the 2008 crop and a market update:

• Review of the 2007 crop and the changing market

• Risk and the 2008 crop?

• Field and variety choice

• Pest, disease and fertilisers plans

• Seed management

• EU market review volumes, prices, quality issues

Session 3 Early season crop management walk and talk

Date: 23.5.2008
Venue: 2 contrasting fields
Early season crop management:

• Review cultivations, weed control and fertiliser use

• Greening, planting depth and ridge building

• Seed spacing, target plant populations and tuber size

• Crop protection from now on

Session 4 Mid season crop walk

Date: 24.7.2008
Venue: 2 or 3 contrasting fields

• Crop yield potential, canopies, root growth and tuber quality so far?

• Review blight control and soil water requirements

• Market prospects for the 2008 crop?

Session 5 Late season crop walk

Date: 21.8.2008
Venue: 2 contrasting fields and an empty potato store
Preparation for harvest and storage:

• Market requirements 2008

• Market prospects for the 2008 crop?

• Harvesting plans – desiccation timing and technique

• Managing bruising

• Storage plans – fans, temperatures, carbon dioxide and store environment

Notes :

Further Information :