Potato Review

20 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2020 OVERSEAS FOCUS What can we learn from the west? Richard Wilson, Packhouse Procurement Manager with R S Cockerill (York) Ltd, recently visited North-west USA, Washington State, to look at how the area’s production methods, markets and immense scale compares to that of the UK. Here he tells us what he learned. P OTATO growers in Washington State boast the highest yields in the world, so why can we not replicate that in the UK? Situated in the far North West, bordering Canada, lies Washington State (WA) the second largest potato growing area in the US, behind Idaho. It produces in the region of 4.3Mt annually from an area of c. 68,000ha. While that may seem a realistically achievable average in the UK, many of the growers suggest repeatable yields of 100t/ha year after year. e powerhouse of this production area lies at the heart of WA, in the vast Columbia basin. Measuring around 258,000 square miles and named after the river that ows through it, the rich volcanic sandy loams provide a suitable medium and fertility for bumper crops of potatoes. e focus is almost entirely centred on processing frozen French Fry supply into the likes of McCain, Simplot and Lamb Weston, who all have numerous production sites strategically located close to the growing areas and transport infrastructure. e vast majority are exported into the neighbouring and fast-developing Asian-Paci c markets through the ports of Seattle and Portland, Oregon. e demand is such that 100% of the crop is contracted to the processors and growers report ‘If we can produce more, they will take it’, a point that illustrates there is plenty of scope for expansion. Changes through irrigation What changed the prospects of this once barren and dry expanse of wilderness was the introduction of a managed water system. With long, sunny days, temperatures regularly getting into the high 30’s o C during the summer and combined with average rainfall of just 150-250mm/annum, the basin needs irrigation in order to realise its high yield potential. Without it crops would perish in a matter of days on the free draining and low organic matter soils. Electronically driven, GPS-controlled centre pivot irrigation has become the preferred and most e cient method, having replaced ood irrigation techniques. Each pivot can cover an area typically of 50-60ha applying 10-12mm over a 24-36hour single rotation, but can also be utilised to apply fertiliser, pesticides and herbicides. is versatility to perform several di erent functions has delivered large e ciency savings, with water usage reduced by 33% over the past 15 years. e water is fed to the growing area from the north of the basin via a network of 4000 miles of pumps, reservoir, canals and trenches culminating at the head of the system, the Grand Coulee Dam. Built under Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ following the Depression and nished in 1941, the dam has created a 150 mile reservoir on the Columbia River, stretching as far as the Canadian border. While acting as a giant header tank for the basin below, the plentiful water supply is actually a by-product of its principle role of hydroelectric power supply, with the dam laying claim to being the largest electricity generating facility in the US. Downstream the growers have the opportunity to buy into the project for around £18,000/ha, securing water extraction rights which guarantees them 750mm/ha each year for the foreseeable future, often incentivised with free electricity. e investment into centre pivots on previously untenable soil can see land values nearly triple overnight. ose without access to the infrastructure use bore holes, frequently plunging to depths of 240m in order to nd water. However, levels are dropping 4m/year and although less expensive, are a much less secure proposition for the future. e scope for expansion is also incomparable to the UK where we work on a nite land base faced with the challenge of encroaching urban development. In stark contrast, the basin o ers su cient water to theoretically provide to 450,000ha of land, of which only 240,000ha is currently being utilised. e maths is based on a permissible Centre pivot irrigation at CSS Farms. Richard Wilson