Potato price 2018

Spud

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
YO62
I have used it, back in 2010, with mixed success.

Its a lot of work setting it up and taking down, regardless of how much it is used this has to be done.
Needs dedication to attention to detail to get the desired results

Time wise, I don't think theres much in it, the gains are in the water efficiency - far less evaporation and drift in windy weather.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Care to substantiate that claim?
I can't remember the last time I bought a good spud. I've tried different shops, different varieties and different growers.
I've even had more than one variety in the same bag and none of them have been good. When I grow my own I sell the surplus and can't dig them quick enough even though I charge a premium.
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
I can't remember the last time I bought a good spud. I've tried different shops, different varieties and different growers.
I've even had more than one variety in the same bag and none of them have been good. When I grow my own I sell the surplus and can't dig them quick enough even though I charge a premium.

What variety do you grow?
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
I have used it, back in 2010, with mixed success.

Its a lot of work setting it up and taking down, regardless of how much it is used this has to be done.
Needs dedication to attention to detail to get the desired results

Time wise, I don't think theres much in it, the gains are in the water efficiency - far less evaporation and drift in windy weather.

Did you just use it the once? The main line, pressure valves and filters are expensive.

It's a good idea, although time consuming post planting to lay and again to lift pre harvesting. I believe it doesn't work well on hills and rolling land.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
What variety do you grow?
British Queen, red and white Duke of York, Aldo, Dunbar Standard, King Edward, Golden Wonder, Arran Victory, Kerrs Pink and Pentland Dell. The dells lacked taste and the dukes were a poor crop but everything else I'd grow again.
I'm not sure taste and texture is just down to variety though, I think the way they are grown has a lot to do with it.
 

Spud

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
YO62
Did you just use it the once? The main line, pressure valves and filters are expensive.

It's a good idea, although time consuming post planting to lay and again to lift pre harvesting. I believe it doesn't work well on hills and rolling land.

Yes it was just one year (might of been further back than 2010 thinking about it) with locally hired kit. The hirer packed up and let the land out to a management company, and the kit went back to another branch of the firm, so no longer available.

We dipped the toe in the water on a farm with a good water source, but no irrigation license, because back then you didn't need one for trickle. I wasn't sufficiently enamoured with it to make the investment required.
 

AndrewB

Member
Location
Kincardineshire
No, the problem with the spud industry is everyone is growing spuds that aren't good enough to eat. They're only fit for processing or adding to recipes that add some taste.

The problem is that supermarkets want potatoes that look good on the shelf not necessarily potatoes that taste good as most shoppers buy on appearance.

The only market that shows growth is the processing/ readymeal as consumers want convenience as they don’t want to prepare food, processing varieties don’t always taste so good cooked at home.
 

Spud

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
YO62
British Queen, red and white Duke of York, Aldo, Dunbar Standard, King Edward, Golden Wonder, Arran Victory, Kerrs Pink and Pentland Dell. The dells lacked taste and the dukes were a poor crop but everything else I'd grow again.
I'm not sure taste and texture is just down to variety though, I think the way they are grown has a lot to do with it.

Some old varieties there, whats your scale?
Care to share your tips for growing tasty spuds?
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
The problem is that supermarkets want potatoes that look good on the shelf not necessarily potatoes that taste good as most shoppers buy on appearance.

The only market that shows growth is the processing/ readymeal as consumers want convenience as they don’t want to prepare food, processing varieties don’t always taste so good cooked at home.
I'm no expert but I think the potato industry is stuck in a vicious circle driven by the supermarkets and their desire to have everything looking nice. When the consumer is sitting at the dinner table they forget about what the spuds looked like, it's all about taste and if the taste isn't good enough they'll choose rice or pasta next time.
 

WRXppp

Member
Location
North Yorks
British Queen, red and white Duke of York, Aldo, Dunbar Standard, King Edward, Golden Wonder, Arran Victory, Kerrs Pink and Pentland Dell. The dells lacked taste and the dukes were a poor crop but everything else I'd grow again.
I'm not sure taste and texture is just down to variety though, I think the way they are grown has a lot to do with it.
We used to do farmers markets with a lot of these varieties, and had loads of positive comments, they were always grown as a patch within the commercial kestrel and cultra, i’d add Edzell Blue to that list for Xmas roasties and pink fir apple, ratte and roseval as salad potatoes!
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Some old varieties there, whats your scale?
Care to share your tips for growing tasty spuds?
My scale depends on how enthusiastic I'm feeling when I'm buying seed, I've never grown more than a quarter of an acre a year. Take my comments as more of a consumers opinion than that of a grower.
Don't know if I can give you any tips, all I do is use fresh land that hasn't grown spuds, go easy on the fertiliser, struggle to keep them blight free and hope for the best
 
I'm no expert but I think the potato industry is stuck in a vicious circle driven by the supermarkets and their desire to have everything looking nice. When the consumer is sitting at the dinner table they forget about what the spuds looked like, it's all about taste and if the taste isn't good enough they'll choose rice or pasta next time.

I agree with you to a degree. The all year round "new potatoes" have a sugary taste from the storage. But people don't really have anywhere to store spuds like they used to. They go in the fridge at home generally.

Theres more options as well - couscous, cauliflower rice, all sorts of beans, butternut sqush/ sweet potatoes etc.

Don't get me wrong I love spuds and make an effort to have a few bags from all the boys around me but I can't deny its easier to chuck in some oven chips, pasta or rice than it is to do mash.

I don't think people buy on taste much anymore. They go out and expect a nice taste though
 
I have used it, back in 2010, with mixed success.

Its a lot of work setting it up and taking down, regardless of how much it is used this has to be done.
Needs dedication to attention to detail to get the desired results

Time wise, I don't think theres much in it, the gains are in the water efficiency - far less evaporation and drift in windy weather.

I’ve been looking at the Howseman system. The ultimate would be to able to lay tape with the planter at a guess...

The drip system looks more reliable as it places the water below the canopy in the ridge.

I guess there is a faff factor to it but we often have to pick pipe up and move it during the season for hose reels. Thinking of the fuel saving as well.

Certainly worth a look I feel, we’ve got to make some reinvestment in the coming years in water applications! This could be the route?
 

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
Now that your all here, is a belt planter so much better than a cup? I have a 2013 standen sp200, bit of a faff changing the cup inserts and a bit slow planting. Had it from new but I’d guess not worth much against a belt planter? Planting 120 acres of chipping spuds just Dad and myself.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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