Case study: How to build a potato storage facility

A new 2,700 tonne potato storage facility – constructed and equipped as a ‘turnkey’ project by Crop Systems Ltd - is helping Shropshire growers J M Bubb and Son hit and beat exacting targets for both energy and CIPC usage.

The Bubbs grow 360 acres of potatoes as part of the arable business at Lynn South Farm, Lynn, Newport and built the new complex to replace ageing facilities which they realised were past their best.

Their new store is an integrated complex which includes two 1,200 tonne bulk stores built adjoining an extensive covered loading and grading area. The complex also features a 300 tonne box store, as well as both machinery and chemical stores.
 

They grow for the processing market, with over two thirds of their crops going to McCain and the rest to a selection of other customers, although the new store’s performance might open up fresh opportunities with their customers, suggests Jonathan Bubb:

“The stores were loaded in October and most of the crop was unloaded in April and May. Over that period we used three CIPC treatments of 14 grammes/tonne, 12gms/t and another 12gms/t – 38gms/t total.

“With experience of how well the system works, in future years we plan to bring that down. The store’s energy usage has been excellent, with the energy costs over the entire storage period working out at £2.19/tonne.

“Furthermore 93% of the energy generated throughout the winter from the 50kW worth of solar panels installed on the roof, was used by the store.

“Everything about our previous store was ageing. It wasn’t efficiently insulated and was not actually purpose built, and was only really suitable for fairly short term storage, and we were concerned about how that impacted on energy efficiency”, says Jonathan.

“In the end we realised a completely new building was needed and decided to use Crop Systems because their equipment was the best on the market”.