New event Potato Days UK focuses on practical demonstrations and knowledge exchange

July 23, 2024

On 4 and 5 September 2024 the new 20-hectare Potato Days UK kicks off, some 100 exhibitors are preparing their machinery and innovative solutions ready for visitors from across the industry. These include novel practices in trial plots, demonstrating the latest advances in crop nutrition, fertilizer management, harvesting and storage. Held over both exhibition days, machinery demonstrations of cultivation, harvesting, cleaning and loading will be presented at Dyson Farming’s Nocton Estate in Lincolnshire, UK.

Field solutions over two days

Potato growing in 2024 is already requiring a particularly high degree of flexibility from farmers in this year’s growing season due to profound changes in weather conditions. Potato growers from the UK will be using the event to identify both technical and farm input solutions to prepare for similar scenarios on the future. “At this unique farm venue, potato professionals from the UK and further afield will be able to identify market-ready farm solutions efficiently and what is more, we offer free entry. We wanted the event to be as close as possible to farm conditions, which is why we also included large-scale machinery demonstrations on 12 hectares,” said Greg Smith, DLG’s representative in the UK & Ireland.

Taking place on both event days, the live harvesting demonstrations are performed by harvesting machines from AVR, Dewulf, Grimme and Standen.  “These live machinery demos will present to potato growers close up how to get the potatoes out of the ground efficiently and into the trailers for the loading lines,” Smith added.

Trial plots  present agronomy methods

A select group of exhibitors have planted trial plots that feature new technologies in weed reduction, crop protection and inputs, different varieties and innovative irrigation systems. The crop trials offer visitors the opportunity to inspect crop and agronomy methods in detail. One crop trial exhibitor is Emerald Research.  “Our on-site trial plots are designed to evaluate ways of reducing the fertiliser and fungicide footprint through using comprehensive programmes of microbials, biostimulants and nutrient placement at planting combined with foliar applications once there is a canopy. We’re looking forward to meeting growers and discussing the changing world of crop management,” said Helen Holman, Marketing & Communications Manager, Emerald Research.

Potato Days Hall

The event features an indoor marquee – “The Potato Days Hall” – that will present solutions and services such as inputs, storage, packaging and processing. Potato Days UK is accompanied by an informative programme of talks and workshops offering visitors the opportunity to engage with more than 100 industry suppliers in person, learn about the latest methods and best practices and build business relationships that help move farming operations forward. Event partners include Dyson Farming; industry organisation, GB Potatoes; AVR; Dewulf; GRIMME UK; McCain; the University of Lincoln; and UK Food Valley, the regional network for innovation in the food industry.

Free registration

Nocton Farm is owned by Dyson Farming, one of the largest and most innovative farming companies in the UK. Dyson Farming will be providing a total area of 20 hectares in the heart of the British potato region for Potato Days UK. Interested potato cultivation professionals can visit Potato Days UK free of charge when registering in advance.

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