Potato Days United Kingdom: Free field event for potato growers kicks off this week in Nocton

On Wednesday, 4 September, at Nocton, Lincolnshire, the new Potato Days UK will commence, unveiling a comprehensive 20-hectare field event. This two-day showcase will feature 11 advanced machines demonstrating key agricultural processes such as weed control, harvesting, cleaning, and loading.

Alongside these live demonstrations, nearly 100 exhibitors will present cutting-edge solutions for potato growers, complemented by a robust professional programme that includes 25 expert speakers addressing a wide range of in-depth topics crucial to the industry.

Visitors enter for free on both days, 4 and 5 September, with prior registration needed. Giving UK and Irish potato growers a full overview of practical solutions, this field demo event is launched by Agritechnica organiser DLG (German Agricultural Society) and supported by partners, including Dyson Farming, who is hosting the event.

Free Registration for Potato Cultivation Professionals

All visitors will register for their free ticket online on the event website, presenting the digital ticket at the door, which is scanned.

In addition to machinery demonstrations, various solutions for potato growers will be showcased in both indoor and outdoor stands, covering novel agronomy practices, the latest advances in crop nutrition, fertilizer management, harvesting, and storage.

High-Profile Speakers to Address Policy and Sustainability

The event also offers talks and panel discussions in its professional programme, which has been put together by experts advisors from industry, farming and research. On both exhibition days, machinery for harvesting, cleaning, mechanical weeding and loading will be demonstrated at Dyson Farming’s Nocton Estate.

Greg Smith, Event Director, representative for UK & Ireland, DLG (German Agricultural Society):

"Potato Days UK is a field event through and through. We were asked by potato growers who have been supporting our event to include machinery demonstrations as a top priority. 12 hectares have been dedicated to the harvesting handling and loading demonstrations which will be working the soil. The potatoes have been in the ground since mid-May and the crop yield and quality is looking good."

Greg Smith, Event Director, representative for UK & Ireland, German Agricultural Society

Former DEFRA Minister, George Eustice, who farms in Cornwall and now acts as advisor for Emerald Research, will join speakers from across the potato industry in a session on policy and practice. 

The programme session also includes Grace O’Dwyer from HSBC, James Young of McCain, and Debbie Winstanley of CUPGRA, who will debate the effect of policy on future practices and how this can contribute to sustainability and efficiency. Mark Taylor, influential industry leader and Chair of GB Potatoes, will lead the discussion.

Live Machinery Demonstrations

The following manufacturers will be taking part in the machinery demonstrations on the crop that has been especially grown for the event. The live machinery demos will allow visitors to see close up how to get the potatoes out of the ground efficiently and into the trailers for the loading lines, with minimal damage and preserving crop quality.

Potato Days UK is accompanied by speaker sessions

Mechanical weed control:

• Einböck Aerostar Fusion (6m) - tined weeder – presented by Terrington Machinery

Potato harvesters:

• AVR - Puma 4.0 (4-row self-propelled with bunker)
• Dewulf - Kwatro Extreme (4-row self-propelled with bunker)
• Dewulf - Enduro (4-row self-propelled with bunker)
• Grimme - Varitron 470 (4-row self-propelled with bunker)
• Grimme - Select 200 (2-row trailed without bunker – constant overloading)
• Standen - T2XS (2-row trailed without bunker – constant overloading)

Cleaning/Loading:

• AVR - Falcon 24-45 + Python 80-18 T + Cobra 80-19
• Dewulf - MH 242 Scotts Evolution + ML 1980
• Downs - TFLAR_1 - 240 Field loader - TFL240 PC SE S8 IT CTL13X1000

All demonstrations are supported by tractors provided by leading John Deere dealer, Ben Burgess, with trailers from Bailey. Additionally, tractors from Claas and trailers from Richard Weston will operate on the site.

Potato growers expected in the field

UK's potato growers and potato professionals are expected in large numbers over the two event days, not only to see the harvesting and loading equipment in action but also to network with fellow professionals in the field plots and exhibitor stands from across the value chain. 

The purpose-built marquee contains around 60 exhibitors from across the sector and the show field allows larger static machinery and equipment displays as well as the chance to spend time in discussion with a wide range of manufacturers, suppliers and support organisations to build business relationships that help move farming operations forward. Large-scale potato grower James Harrison of EG Harrison & Co Ltd, Norfolk is planning to attend the show.

James Harrison:

"It's so good to bring the potato industry together on a working demonstration site where farmers and growers can see the latest technology at first hand. And it’s a great way to look at the current options available to deliver potatoes to their chosen markets and engage with the industry."

Ormskirk-based potato farmer Andrew Webster is particularly keen to come to the event:

Andrew Webster:

"I'm interested in learning from the talks and discussions. Knowledge exchange is vital and even if you take away one thing and use it, there’s a benefit. You learn so much from the questions and discussions, too. It’s all about marginal gains to reach your goals. Supporting this event is so important for potato farmers and growers – if you don’t attend it won’t be there in future!"

"If you’re in the industry you should be looking into the future – to 'next generation' potato growing. Potato Days UK offers us that opportunity."

The machinery demonstrations on 12 hectares is a major draw

Crop trials

A group of exhibitors have planted trial plots that feature new technologies in weed reduction, crop protection and inputs, different varieties and innovative irrigation systems. The crop trials enable visitors to inspect crop and agronomy methods while discussing the field results. 

Listen to the "Talking Tatoes" podcast before you go

DLG’s Commitment to Global Potato Industry Engagement

The DLG, as part of its non-profit objective of offering local know-how to farmers, has been organizing a number of successful trade fairs for the potato industry. DLG is the organizer of PotatoEurope in the Netherlands and Germany, the international potato industry field exhibition.

PotatoEurope takes place annually, cycling between four countries: Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The event covers potato cultivation and processing, including trial fields and machinery demonstrations.