News on Potato Cultivation from Europe

Potato growers in Hungary are in a tough position as potato prices are low. On top of that, yield has been negatively affected by heat and quality is far from optimal.

Ten Dutch potato (processing) companies and two associations have established Holland Innovative Potato (HIP) to facilitate and coordinate joint pre-competitive research activities. A budget of € 4.5 million is available for the first research program of HIP.

For the current European potato harvest, the North-western-European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimate the total potato production at 27.9 million tons for the five NEPG countries (Belgium, Germany, France, The Netherlands and Great Britain). This is up 13.5 percent compared to last season.

Op basis van proefrooiingen en praktijkresultaten verwacht de NEPG een totale oogst van 27,9 miljoen ton aan consumptieaardappelen in Noord-west Europa. Dat is 13,5% hoger dan vorig jaar.

Despite the cancellation of the first day of Potato Europe (Wednesday) and the less then perfect weather on Thursday, the 270 exhibitors were able to welcome around 10,000 visitors, just on the Thursday

Dewulf now unveils Torro, its long-awaited trailed 2-row sieving potato harvester with haulm conveyor, flat hedgehog units and bunker.

In consultation with the municipality of Noordoostpolder all activities of PotatoEurope 2017 are cancelled for Wednesday 13 September, due to the expected weather conditions.

Dewulf-Miedema presents an impressive number of machines at Potato Europe. Much of the equipment can be seen in action during numerous demonstrations of harvesting and storage technology. But the the main eye-catcher will be the unveiling of Torro!

Check out the five products nominated for the Potato Europe 2017 Innovation Award. Until Monday September 11, noon, you can still vote for your favorite!

Potato Farmers are reminded to consider safety during harvest, since incidents during the potato harvesting season remain a common cause of serious and fatal injury.

Tong’s market leading Caretaker mobile (potato) grader is now available with a new option of trailer reversing sensors, make loading the grader’s hopper much quicker, safer, easier and more accurate than ever before.

As the potato harvest in the United Kingdom progresses, there are increasing reports of widespread scab.

The Irish Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Iverk Produce has signed a deal to provide Aldi with €70m worth of Irish-grown potatoes over three years.

The breeders of Solynta have succeeded in making potato plants insusceptible to the dreaded potato disease Phytophthora infestans, using their revolutionary hybrid breeding technique.

In three weeks PotatoEurope 2017 opens its doors. Over 265 exhibitors (+8 %) from 16 countries will share their potato expertise with you in their booths and allow visitors a look in the potato chain of the future.

In Scotland, a group of major potato businesses and public sector organisations have sponsored a £242,000 (USD 313,000) research project aimed at reducing the impact of potato disease blackleg on the Scottish seed potato industry.

Dewulf has expanded its product range with a new 2-row trailed offset harvester with bunker
that has been named Torro.

In Belgium - and also in the Netherlands - drought has taken its toll on the early potato harvest. But for the main crop (for storage) a lot depends on the coming weeks and the month of August.