Potato News from United Kingdom

Following the success of last year’s demonstration programme, GRIMME UK is once again giving people a chance to see the GL 420 Exacta potato planter in operation.

In light of the new rules in the United Kingdom on the use of inhibited urea, announced on 22 March, farmers are being encouraged to check levels of efficiency when purchasing urea, to maximise their investment when complying to new regulations.

Gordon MP Richard Thomson has been advised by DEFRA that new requirements which will allow quality Scottish seed potatoes back into their Northern Irish markets are expected to be in place for autumn this year.

As part of the Spring Budget, from 1st April UK manufacturers now have 100% First Year Allowance for Capital Expensing. This means that UK companies will be able to write off the full cost of qualifying main rate plant and machinery investment in the year of the investment.

With weed control a key challenge for farmers, and reduced sensitivity to some herbicides a continuing problem. New product trials by FMC have demonstrated that effective controls are on the horizon.

Launched in 2017, the potato variety Kingsman has developed quickly in popularity to become Scotland-based potato breeder Cygnet PB Ltd.’s first globally successful variety.

Pioneering North West adoption programme supports digitalisation projects worth GBP 5m (USD 6m). A potato manufacturer has helped Made Smarter’s pioneering technology adoption programme reach its 250th investment milestone.

Tips to improve soil health from David Newton of Timac Agro for farmers in England to help them meet the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) ‘arable soils’ standard.

The World Potato Congress presents a webinar with Dr. Alison Lees, Potato Pathologist with The James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK on February 28, 2023 at 9.00am Eastern Standard Time (EST).

As the United Kingdom is starting to make plans to get together at restaurants, bars and street parties to celebrate the King’s coronation on May 6th, Lamb Weston is helping restaurant operators with some coronation inspiration!

With the commissioning of the third Lan Handling dolly & crate loader, Cockerill's handling capacity increases to a total of up to 240 bags per minute, using these three production lines.

Farmers across Scotland are being urged to have their soils tested and analysed in the face of continuing high input prices and ahead of changes to Scottish agricultural support schemes.

The food manufacturer intends to expand its operations in the area, having agreed to purchase the 6.4-acre site off Thurcaston Road from the city council for more than GBP 3.5m (USD 4.2m).

Biostimulants can act as an insurance policy for growers this spring, especially as another wave of frosts threatens to knock crops back. So far, winter has been wet and except some sharp frosts, relatively mild – resulting in many autumn sown crops being further forward than usual.

Leading UK potato supplier Greenvale AP Ltd has partnered with Trinity AgTech to roll out Trinity’s natural capital navigator, Sandy, to farms across the country, supporting them in credibly and confidently analysing and reaching their environmental targets.

British food processing equipment manufacturer Fabcon Food Systems (FFS) has prepared for its next phase of global growth with a series of new appointments and promotions.

BP (British Potato), the key calendar date for all those operating in or supplying to the British potato industry, will have a new owner/organiser for its next event in November 2023.

Without phosphorus food cannot be produced, since all plants and animals need it to grow. Put simply: if there is no phosphorus, there is no life. As such, phosphorus-based fertilisers – it is the "P" in "NPK" fertiliser – have become critical to the global food system.