Potato Review

16 POTATO REVIEW SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 BP2021 Bayer to share trials data to help refine strategies BAYER will use its stand at British Potato 2021 to share trials results with growers and advisers that helps them to get the best performance from its range of crop protection products. In recent seasons Bayer has introduced a new nematicide for the control of plant parasitic nematodes and a broad-spectrum herbicide for pre-emergence use. Both have been well-received among users for their strong and reliable performance and growers have learned to adapt their systems to maximise their contribution to crop protection. New trials data on application practices offers an insight to how tactics can be refined further. “New data offers the opportunity to refine programmes for optimal performance. This applies especially to the herbicide Emerger Discuss blight management CORTEVA Agriscience will be detailing its approaches to managing late blight at its BP stand. After an intense year for blight with multiple Hutton Criteria disease warnings issued following warm and wet weather, many growers are understandably concerned about losing access to vital solutions as they struggle to keep on top of the challenging disease. Corteva Agriscience’s experts, including field technical manager Craig Chisholm and category manager Alister McRobbie, will be on hand to discuss how growers can maintain a robust programme. Corteva’s Zorvec category, a market-leading oxathiapiprolin-based chemistry, has once again proven itself in the field this year, offering growers the opportunity to extend the interval between blight sprays to 10. Instrumental in meeting growers’ need to get a clean start, two sprays at rapid canopy and one at stable canopy has proven a good strategy in the fight against blight. The TPS-Pro polisher is one of Tong’s new developments. (aclonifen) where we have continued to investigate product combinations and application strategies to support effective weed control across a range of conditions and varieties,” said Lizzie Carr-Archer, Bayer Root Products CampaignManager. In the spring of 2021, Bayer unveiled a new fungicide for the control of early blight (Alternaria alternata and A. solani) that promises to be the new benchmark for control. Caligula (fluopyram + prothioconazole) has one of the highest scores of any product for early blight control in the Euroblight league table. “Feedback fromusers is overwhelmingly positive and it is evident that Caligula sets a new standard for early blight control. Given the continued uncertainty surroundingmancozeb and the threat of A. solani isolates less sensitive Celebrations a-plenty for Tong THEpast two years have been very eventful for Tong Engineering, and the companywill have plenty to celebrate at this year’s BritishPotato show. MarketingManager CaroleMetcalfe said: “BP2019was one of the last potato-industry- specific eventswe attendedprior to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and lots of innovations inpotato and vegetable handling equipment, including a number of newproduct developments at Tong have been launchedduringwhat is almost two years. “BP2021will be a great opportunity to finally meet face-to-facewith customers and showcase all those latest advancements andnewproduct launches at the exhibition. In addition, we are delighted to be progressingwell with the Phase 2 build of our newmanufacturing facility in Spilsby so wewill be celebrating the company-widemove to the newsite at the event too.” Tong’s latest product developments centre aroundminimising labour requirements and maximising throughput alongside gentle handling andminimalmaintenance requirements. All developments on its range of potato handling equipment will be showcased at the event to boscalid spreading across Europe, the strong performance of Caligula against this disease is welcome news,” said Lizzie. The loss of several powder tuber treatments for the control of Rhizoctonia solani has increased the risk of black scurf, blemishes such as ‘elephant hide’, anddeformed or cracked tubers. In a bid to provide a sustainable formof protection, Bayer continues to investigate the contribution its biological fungicide SerenadeASO (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain QST713) canmake to control. “Serenade ASO continues to show promise in controlling an expanding range of diseases across many crops. It has received authorisation for application to tubers pre-planting for R. solani control and we hope to see this extended to include in-furrow use soon,” Lizzie said. New opportunities to discuss AGRICO, developer and supplier of seed potato, says the company has also seen some ‘transformative’ changes over the past two years, and is looking forward to sharing its news and insights at the show. “We at Agrico are pleased that British Potato is taking place this Autumn in Harrogate. The last two years have transformed many aspects of the potato sector so we are keen to meet as many customers and industry contacts as possible to discuss these changes and new opportunities,” a spokesman for the company stated.