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Watching Spring finally spring into action
At last the sound of tractors roaring into action can be heard within Agrimarc – and the wait for the right conditions to plant potatoes is reported as being worthwhile.
It’s always a hard decision to make – when is the right time to start potato planting when the pressure of deadlines, yields and risks such as compacted soil are ever constant. However, recent reports in Farmer’s Weekly (9 April, 2010) highlight that main crops should still reach yield potentials provided planting is completed by the end of April - it’s worth waiting for the right conditions.
The recent spring weather since Easter has provided improved conditions and we at Agrimarc, along with many other potato growers, will be hoping for drier weather for the next 3 weeks.
Planting of our 2010 crop has been slower than planned says Nick Sheppard, Agrimarc’s Potato Manager. “We currently estimate planting operations as being one week behind where we were at the same time last year. Whilst the season has proved showery so far we have kept field operations close together so that in the event of wet conditions the land does not get too wet to cause further delays.“
Agrimarc potato planting now well underway – April 2010
Updates from the wider industry report a similar situation. The national planting position, reported by Potato Council up to 2 April 2010, was estimated as being half of that planted by the same point in 2009 and slightly ahead of the position recorded in 2008.
Additional data recorded as part of Agrimarc’s field operations has also highlighted differences in the 2010 and 2009 seasons, when soil temperatures were 7.5 0C on 9 April 2010 compared to 7.9 0C on 23 March 2009. This again emphasizes why this season is slightly later but hopefully the patience excercised so far in waiting for the right conditions will pay dividends.
If you would like more information on our farming operations then please contact us via info@agrimarc.co.uk.
Posted April 2010