Potato Review

4 POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2023 NEWS Editor Stephanie Cornwall 01778 395055 stephanie.cornwall@warnersgroup.co.uk Advertising Manager eresa Geeson 01778 392046 theresag@warnersgroup.co.uk Publisher Juliet Loiselle 01778 391067 Julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Design Dean Cole deanc@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions 01778 392464 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Subscriptions & advertising copy Potato Review, Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH www.potatoreview.com ISSN 0961–7655 © AREMI Ltd 2018 e publishers are not necessarily in agreement with opinions expressed in this journal. No responsibility can be accepted for statements made by contributors or advertisers. POTATO REVIEW is published by: Warners Group Publications, e Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH Printed by Warners (Midlands) Plc Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincs. PE10 9PH May/June 2023 PRINTED BY WARNERS 01778 395111 Greater nancial rewards announced for organic growing UK GROWERS who convert to organic will receive up to a third more cash than last year as the Government increases support for nature-friendly farming. Payments for organic growing are rising by an average of 25% for those entering a new scheme with Countryside Stewardship, which recently opened for mid-tier applications. The Government has boosted all payments for growing that benefits the environment via Countryside Stewardship, but the increase for organic is significantly above the average increase of 10%. The Soil Association says there has been 11 years’ consecutive growth in the UK organic market, which topped £3.1billion in 2022. It welcomed the latest announcement, stating that growers converting to organic will be able to earn twice as much as before from Government incentives, in Countryside Stewardship agreements that will run for five years. Options are also available for nature- friendly practices such as avoiding insecticides and protecting soils via the new Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI). Growers can apply for organic conversion or maintenance payments via the mid-tier options for Countryside Stewardship, which will be open for applications until August 18th. Newmethod for residue testing A NEW test has been launched by Eurofins Agro UK to help potato growers with pesticide residue testing. The test can be booked online and comes at a time when some farm assurance schemes have implemented the need to test every year, or to have an evidence-based justification for fewer tests. Sophie Cath, from Eurofins Agro UK, said: “Results from samples that are sent directly to our laboratory take between three and four weeks.” The regulation of residues uses the system of statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). These represent the maximum safe amounts of residue likely to remain in food products when a pesticide has been used correctly by growers adhering to good agricultural practice (GAP). “By using our tests, growers will receive vital data to ensure products are fit for purpose and will be able to provide evidence to regulators and consumers that potatoes are safe by demonstrating that any residues present are below regulatory limits, or MRLs,” said Sophie. The test costs £160 per one kilo sample. Biochar to be trialled for soil remediation LANCASHIRE County Council is piloting a project with North-West based Positive Biocarbon to remediate soils and store atmospheric carbon using biochar. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance made through a controlled process called pyrolysis that converts organic biomass waste into stable soil carbon. For every tonne of biochar, three tonnes of atmospheric CO 2 are captured and carbon is permanently stored when sequestered in soils or building materials. A total of six hectares of farmland will be used during the pilot.