A SERIES of arable focused events, organised by levy body AHDB, got underway recently with meetings in Perthshire, Fife and on the Black Isle.

A soft launch of the Scottish Strategic Potato Farm project (SPot), which will run in seasons 2017-2019, saw farmers from throughout Scotland descend on Bruce Farms, Balmyle.

Host farmer, Geoff Bruce and his potato crop manager Kerr Howatson welcomed growers and encouraged them to continue to engage with the project and the field scale crop trials it is set to run.

Claire Hodge, knowledge transfer manager for AHDB Potatoes in Scotland commented: “We are delighted that around 100 Scottish potato professionals attended this launch meeting. It is encouraging that around 60% were growers, and also great to see support from agronomists and other advisors.”

“The presentations and visit to the 60-acre crop of Maris Piper that we are focusing on in 2016, gave a great taster of what SPot is all about, ie practical in-field demonstrations looking to reduce costs and improve marketable yields.”

“We had excellent discussion and input from delegates regarding what they would like the project to focus on in future years. Cultivations, nutrition, water management and maximising input seed potential were subjects of particular interest.”

“The major AHDB sponsored industry event, Potatoes in Practice, takes place at the James Hutton Institute on August 11 and I intend to have a short list of topics and suggested trial plans to discuss with growers at that event.”

Arable farmers in Fife and on and around the Black Isle also benefitted from events recently when their respective Monitor Farm groups held their annual open days.

Both of these 3-year monitor farm projects, jointly funded by Scottish Government and AHDB, are set to end in December, and the open days therefore gave a good chance to reflect on the benefits brought by the projects to farming members.

Laurencekirk farmer Andrew Moir, who in his various capacities with industry bodies has been involved in a number of monitor farm projects over the years, commented at the Fife meeting:

“I have noticed a massive, and encouraging, change in attitude amongst farmers in the 3 cycles / 12 years of monitor farm projects. This is very evident here in Fife. The younger generation of farmers are now taking the reins and are much more open to sharing ideas, collaborating and discussing costs and margins.”

This point was enhanced by Colin Mitchell, farm manager from Meiklour Estates in Perthshire who attended the SPot soft-launch and has been consistently involved in the Fife Monitor Farm:

“For me the best thing that has come from the Monitor Farm project has been the benchmarking group. 12 farmers have come together in the group and we have used AHDB cropbench to compare and benchmark our production costs and margins, with interesting and useful results.”

Looking ahead to the 11th of August Potatoes in Practice (PiP) event, Claire Hodge continued:

“Potatoes in Practice has now grown to be the largest in-field potato event in Britain. We expect around 800 visitors, including a visiting group of international potato researchers, to the James Hutton Institute for PiP. The event is once again set to provide seasonal, relevant advice from experts on varieties, crop nutrition, pests and disease issues.

“Trial plots will look at PCN-resistant varieties, advanced clones, bio-fumigants, Blackleg and the impact of wet seasons.”

“Further event trials and demos will look at foliar and crop nutrition, high-grade seed production, seed tuber treatments and bio-controls, and there’s a fantastic chance to hear from business and breeders on marketing and variety selection.”

Summarising the value to farmers of attending and taking part in such projects and events, Caroline Matheson, who along with husband Brian played host to the Black Isle Monitor Farm commented:

“As host farmers we have got a lot out of the project. We haven’t made huge changes but lots of little tweaks have helped us to improve business performance. We have regularly had farmers attending from as far away as Caithness, a two hour drive each way, and I would encourage everyone to get involved in future projects.”