Some money in potatoes

[Spud]

In my experience a Sp is quicker than a trailed, forward speed is quicker due to larger web area, no stopping at ends, quicker at lifting short ground and the trickier the conditions get the advantages of running a sp become transparent

Probably so. ime an sp on big wheels ground to a halt before my trailed. They have a very similar seperation area - in kind dry conditions, we regularly top 10kph with our T2 - an sp isn't going to beat that by much. (We've been tapping on at 5kph this last week) They need to make some savings re very short garings etc, they're double the money of a trailed machine. Some need the field opening up for them. None that I'm aware of can windrow in the absence of a trailer.
Swings and roundabouts I guess.

 

[Nearly]

What are people selling 25kg bags for?

Cash!

'There's plenty of money in potatoes. The trick is getting the money out of them again.

 

[Norfolk Olly]

Probably so. ime an sp on big wheels ground to a halt before my trailed. They have a very similar seperation area - in kind dry conditions, we regularly top 10kph with our T2 - an sp isn't going to beat that by much. (We've been tapping on at 5kph this last week) They need to make some savings re very short garings etc, they're double the money of a trailed machine. Some need the field opening up for them. None that I'm aware of can windrow in the absence of a trailer.
Swings and roundabouts I guess.

Varitron i drove had a 7 ton bunker could run one trailer less alot of the time as they werent driving along side all the time, come in the field come under harvester unload on the move, one full bunker added to what you were lifting while unloading equalled 10 boxes, and they are away. Trailers dont need to run near any wet holes or on field at all if wet. As for cost it depends on area covered, I put 1400 hours on it in the first season, start end of may finish spuds end oct then parsnips and carrots till feb which made the cost justifiable.

 

[Spud]

Varitron i drove had a 7 ton bunker could run one trailer less alot of the time as they werent driving along side all the time, come in the field come under harvester unload on the move, one full bunker added to what you were lifting while unloading equalled 10 boxes, and they are away. Trailers dont need to run near any wet holes or on field at all if wet. As for cost it depends on area covered, I put 1400 hours on it in the first season, start end of may finish spuds end oct then parsnips and carrots till feb which made the cost justifiable.

Now THAT'S how to run a self propelled harvester!

 

[Still Farming]

What are people selling 25kg bags for?

£12 in bookers ? With potatoes in?

 

[carpenter1]

I just wondered what you are selling them out the yard at, and what wholesalers are charging. Wholesalers probably same as last year.

 

[Norfolk Olly]

Dug out some photos from 2015 which wasnt that wet tbh.
The first pictures are from a gt trailed harvester with a trailer running along side.
The last pictures are me with the Self propelled in the same field on the same day after they gave up with the gt.
If i was trying to get a wheat crop in i know what i would prefer to be left with

 

[ridger]

Dug out some photos from 2015 which wasnt that wet tbh.
The first pictures are from a gt trailed harvester with a trailer running along side.
The last pictures are me with the Self propelled in the same field on the same day after they gave up with the gt.
If i was trying to get a wheat crop in i know what i would prefer to be left with View attachment 836878View attachment 836879View attachment 836881View attachment 836877View attachment 836880

I wouldnt have given up as easily, looks like normal conditions

 

[essexpete]

From my perspective it's the sheer cost of spud kit which shocks me

Why I assume that there is only one spud grower left in our farming area in SE Essex. Most farms grew spuds 50 years ago but the heavy land not ideal. By the time I was a student in 1980 only farms with grade 1-2 soils grew spuds. In that era single row manned machines bagging off the field in the early season lucky to do 10 to 15 ton/day. By the 90s moved to larger machines and crucially better storage (except one grower who always sold off the grader during a very long harvest period). All out now as areas grown not sufficient to cover investment in new machinery, extra labour, loss of local outlets and risk of poor returns.

 

[Norfolk Olly]

I wouldnt have given up as easily, looks like normal conditions

Why carry on making a mess when a better option is available, if it’s the only means of getting them out then I agree needs must and all that

 

[traineefarmer]

Bought some today at farm shop at long Sutton for £8.onions for £5 for 2 stone bag
Nick...

You were robbed. £6.50/25kg at farm gate here, much less for wholesale quantities.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

Localish potato grower has 700 acres every year and has done for probably 20 yrs. 20 yrs ago he had two trailed harvesters on 150hp tractors and upto 10 120hp tractors and trailers carting. Harvest took him 5-6 weeks.
Today on the same acreage he’s running 1 SP and a trailed machine on 240hp Fendt.
He’s then got 240hp fendts on trailers. Harvest takes him 5-6 weeks.
Am I missing something or are potatoes worth so much more today? He’s a contract grower by the way.

8 people less is a good enough reason!