2014 Potato acreage. More or less than 2013?
- Thread starter MJFreeman
- Start date
Farmer Dod
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Cut back from 160 to 60 this year, much easier autumn and winter crops established far easier. Potato boxes this year are full of potatoes, not the usual rots, stones and mud! Much better autumn in terms of weather admittedly but finished mid October and would have hated to still have had another 100 acres to lift. Will stick at same level for next year.
MJFreeman
Member
I think there will be quite a few growers deciding to 'play it safe'. For some, the cost of harvesting in wet conditions due to reduced efficiency far outweighs the margin in a good crop.
Farmer Dod
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
We've come to the conclusion that we would rather do a small acreage well than try and (usually) fail to successfully grow a larger area. In a wet year by the time you get into November it's not good for the potatoes, the machinery or the people working.
MJFreeman
Member
Good conclusion. I suspect that the weather we have seen this year and last will put a lot of people off. Fortunately we can travel with our harvesters in almost all conditions. Take a look at our business page https://m.facebook.com/MJFContractor
Have been letting out c35 acres/ . Told the grower earlier this year that we will not be continuing, despite good rent. Damage in a good year is unaffordable, simba express st bar points wear twice as fast after tatties as anywhere else on farm. Last years field was wrecked beyond belief, and we didn't get a single visit afterwards, let alone an apology or offer of help to fix it. Could not believe their arrogant lack of commercial awareness! Just got crosser and crosser the longer I was left looking at it, never mind when I was in there trying to fix it myself. Farm is well suited to the job, lot of good sized fields, irrigation lagoon, and underground main. Wouldn't say never again, but the systems used need a serious look I think. Trailed harvesters on inadequate tractors, with trailers running alongside on narrow wheels..........great way of ruining soil structure.
MJFreeman
Member
Great to hear replies like this schuby. Im sorry to hear you've had an ignorant grower on your land. I think a lot of land owners are drawn in by high land rents and then suffer with poor crops in following years. We have seen some real problems after straw. In a wet year, damage from trailed harvesters can be terrible. Self propelled with a tank can keep trailers off the field. Where abouts are you by the way?
- Location
- norfolk
Our salad acreage is up by 20%, maincrop up also but not by as much.
MJFreeman
Member
Spot on! Agree entirely
MJFreeman
Member
Great to hear that some growers are increasing. Do you think that growers with self propelled harvesters are less frightened because they know they have a much better chance of getting them out cost effectively?
- Location
- norfolk
Possibly yes. We are predominately on light land with about 200acres+ on heavier stuff but by no means what you'd call heavy land, I started harvesting mid June and will be lifting carrots and snips till after Christmas, we are not like some who have a 8 week window .
Honest john
Member
- Location
- Fenland
Interesting thread.
It's the market at work. Two wet years back to back.
The result less will be grown until the they are priced back in.
We need more money to pay a higher rent, & have a tracked tanker harvester.
Also as an aside.
Land prep is an issue. This deep ridgeing in summer time where not required is not helping.
The ground has been worked to deep & will not carry the weight so well. IMO.
MJF
Will have more to say on this I feel.
The SP has saved the day for me this last two years.
It's the market at work. Two wet years back to back.
The result less will be grown until the they are priced back in.
We need more money to pay a higher rent, & have a tracked tanker harvester.
Also as an aside.
Land prep is an issue. This deep ridgeing in summer time where not required is not helping.
The ground has been worked to deep & will not carry the weight so well. IMO.
MJF
Will have more to say on this I feel.
The SP has saved the day for me this last two years.
Last edited:
The best way to cure "lateness" of harvesting is to have a tiered system whereby the grower pays an increased rent after certain pre agreed dates kick in,the grower can also continue to rent the land the next year after his potato crop is off, with responsibility to sort it out.
That way the potato grower is incentivised to do things like chit the crop, grow earlier maturing varieties and not over water.
If the crop is lifted in good time, the host farmer will be happier to renew an agreement on the basis his soil and following crop will be more viable, and he knows the tenant is focused on prompt harvesting of a sensible acreage.
I know the weather has been a bitch, but you can plan for it!
MJFreeman
Member
I think that the 2 wet years that we have had have been totally different. Last year, we saw higher than average salad yields due to increased tuber numbers but decreased main crop yields for the same reason (main crop never bulked) which meant that main crop prices were higher than average and salad prices (after the early fluffy skin demand had finished) were about average. This meant that although some had difficulty in harvesting main crop in October and November, the prices reflected the increased costs of harvesting and therefore growers weren't frightened about growing a similar acreage this year. The only thing that may have frightened growers is the mess left behind, damage to soil structure and lost income on following crop. This year we had a later start and again a wet October and November (so far). Unfortunately the prices for main crop this year are at best average and it is this years weather (and mess), I think that will mean we will see reduced acreage in 2014.
After last years well above average rainfall, we have seen land take a real hammering to its structure. This has been evident this year for potato growers who I am certain have had to work their land more than average in the spring. Those that have used bed tillers/clod bashers may have noticed after this bout of rain that unknown to them at the time, the clod bashers have made an artificial pan affecting drainage. The land just cannot take the water. To preserve soil structure, bed tillers should never be used but of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and when seed has already been ordered and lost acres mean lost margins, we are all tempted to do things that aren't right.
I would be interested to hear from more growers about their plans for 2014 and why.
MJFreeman
Member
Unfortunately I don't think that growers were expecting a second wet year, became complacent and therefore did not put any back up plans in place. 2014, I think will see an increase in self propelled harvesters (with tanks to save trailer compaction) but this is of course only feasible for growers with big acreages as small growers simply cannot afford a piece of kit that only works for 2 months of the year or less.
I don't think there is a cure for late harvesting. In different seasons, potatoes will develop at different rates and some varieties will behave differently year to year. Growers should be selecting land more carefully to account for a wet year I.e. salad crops on troublesome land when wet. Late harvesting penalties are a good incentive for growers on rented land and growers should weigh up the cost of the penalty against margin from increased yield if left to grow on. A lot of growers get greedy when there is no threat of a penalty.
MJFreeman
Member
I think that the 2 wet years that we have had have been totally different. Last year, we saw higher than average salad yields due to increased tuber numbers but decreased main crop yields for the same reason (main crop never bulked) which meant that main crop prices were higher than average and salad prices (after the early fluffy skin demand had finished) were about average. This meant that although some had difficulty in harvesting main crop in October and November, the prices reflected the increased costs of harvesting and therefore growers weren't frightened about growing a similar acreage this year. The only thing that may have frightened growers is the mess left behind, damage to soil structure and lost income on following crop. This year we had a later start and again a wet October and November (so far). Unfortunately the prices for main crop this year are at best average and it is this years weather (and mess), I think that will mean we will see reduced acreage in 2014.
After last years well above average rainfall, we have seen land take a real hammering to its structure. This has been evident this year for potato growers who I am certain have had to work their land more than average in the spring. Those that have used bed tillers/clod bashers may have noticed after this bout of rain that unknown to them at the time, the clod bashers have made an artificial pan affecting drainage. The land just cannot take the water. To preserve soil structure, bed tillers should never be used but of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and when seed has already been ordered and lost acres mean lost margins, we are all tempted to do things that aren't right.
I would be interested to hear from more growers about their plans for 2014 and why.
After last years well above average rainfall, we have seen land take a real hammering to its structure. This has been evident this year for potato growers who I am certain have had to work their land more than average in the spring. Those that have used bed tillers/clod bashers may have noticed after this bout of rain that unknown to them at the time, the clod bashers have made an artificial pan affecting drainage. The land just cannot take the water. To preserve soil structure, bed tillers should never be used but of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and when seed has already been ordered and lost acres mean lost margins, we are all tempted to do things that aren't right.
I would be interested to hear from more growers about their plans for 2014 and why.
MJFreeman
Member
Unfortunately I don't think that growers were expecting a second wet year, became complacent and therefore did not put any back up plans in place. 2014, I think will see an increase in self propelled harvesters (with tanks to save trailer compaction) but this is of course only feasible for growers with big acreages as small growers simply cannot afford a piece of kit that only works for 2 months of the year or less.
I don't think there is a cure for late harvesting. In different seasons, potatoes will develop at different rates and some varieties will behave differently year to year. Growers should be selecting land more carefully to account for a wet year I.e. salad crops on troublesome land when wet. Late harvesting penalties are a good incentive for growers on rented land and growers should weigh up the cost of the penalty against margin from increased yield if left to grow on. A lot of growers get greedy when there is no threat of a penalty.
I don't think there is a cure for late harvesting. In different seasons, potatoes will develop at different rates and some varieties will behave differently year to year. Growers should be selecting land more carefully to account for a wet year I.e. salad crops on troublesome land when wet. Late harvesting penalties are a good incentive for growers on rented land and growers should weigh up the cost of the penalty against margin from increased yield if left to grow on. A lot of growers get greedy when there is no threat of a penalty.
smbflame
Member
- Location
- near bridgnorth
Just being nosy bed tillers how do they prepare the ground. Let's say plough .Then what machine curios . No I don't grow spuds lol .Only in garden