Farming Monthly National May 2016 | Page 11

| On Topic Farms are an exciting business to work with because of their commitment to improving systems and processes and their drive for quality, yield and optimum returns from their potato enterprise.” “We look forward to our first SPot Farm open day at Bruce Farms on 12 July, 2016 (potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/events), at which all levy payers and other interested parties will be very welcome.” Bruce Farms are one of the bigger potato growers in Scotland, growing over 270Ha (670acres) every year, alongside cereals, blackcurrants, soft fruit, peas, beans and a pedigree cattle enterprise. Kerr Howatson, Potato Manager for Bruce Farms commented on the SPot initiative: “We aim to be forward thinking and to produce the best commercial potato crops that we possibly can on our own and rented ground across Perthshire and the Borders.” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk “I look forward to hosting the SPot meetings here at Bruce Farms. It will be an extremely interesting opportunity to apply science to our commercial decision making process, challenge conventional working practices and bridge the gap between proven research and farm practice.” “I am sure that the project will be of benefit to us as hosts and also to our potato farming colleagues across Scotland.” AHDB ‘SPot Farms’ are a knowledge exchange concept designed to demonstrate in a practical and commercial environment the benefits of AHDB funded research and development and launched in 2015. The three AHDB SPot farms now established are: Bruce Farms, Perthshire; WB Daw & Son, Staffordshire; and Eleveden Farms in West Suffolk. Further information For further information about AHDB Potatoes work in Scotland growers should contact Claire Hodge on 024 7647 7462 or email [email protected] For further information about AHDB events potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/events May 2016 | Farming Monthly | 11