Farming Talk – positivity around potato industry

The growers we met at the biannual potato industry event BP2017 held in Harrogate on November22 and 23 were very positive about the event and the industry.

The upbeat atmosphere was refreshing given that the average ex-farm free-buy price currently (£89.11 per tonne) is less than half that of the same point in 2016 (£225.79 per tonne). This may be because growers and retailers continue to work closer together, a higher percentage of growers supply potatoes on contract, at a pre-agreed price, so for many high yields mean contracts are filled.

Harvest for some, including those in the North West, was difficult.

Visitors to our stand were able to road test the new Potato Data Centre, where prices, as well as data on variety, planted area, market sector and yield can be analysed.

Information is presented in comparative and interactive graphs. Users are able to pull in data on the variety and market sector relevant to them, and then compare that data to that of previous seasons to identify trends. This is a real game-changer for growers and the supply chain.

Despite this positivity, the uncertainty of Brexit looms. We had a number of conversations with growers, who are telling us the future of crop protection is a concern. We don’t know how the crop protection landscape will look post-Brexit and until we know the outcomes of trade negotiations, we are looking at a prolonged period of uncertainty. At the same time, we are aware of potential increased momentum to look for a sustainable future for crop protection in Britain.

We know that growers fear a sudden and/or unexpected loss of a vital product. Traditionally AHDB has taken on the role of anticipating changes and providing an evidence base for the effectiveness of potentially replacements through the commissioning of research. Currently we manage 137 crop protection and plant health related research projects, with a combined spend of £4.92m across the potatoes, horticulture and cereals and oilseeds sectors.

We will be sharpening our focus on these issues throughout 2018. Growers will be able to access the latest thinking via our Farm Excellence Platform of on-farm events and through future Horizon reports.

Fortunately for growers in Shropshire there is a strategic potato farm, at Heal Farms, Shawbury near Shrewsbury, on their doorstep. The results from our on-farm demonstrations at Heal Farms will be revealed on the results day on 18 January, details can be found at potatoes.ahdb.org.uk.

Those that read AHDB’s latest Horizon report, which modelled the impact on various agricultural sectors for some potential post-Brexit scenarios may have noticed this key point – the top 25 per cent of most efficient farms will remain profitable in any scenario. On receipt of this information many, including visitors to the show last week, want to find out if they are in that top-quarter. The answer lies in our new software, Farmbench. I encourage you all to visit farmbench.ahdb.org.uk to find out where you stand.