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EDITOR ’ S INTRO
FEB / MAR 2023 • farmers-mart . co . uk
The shows are hot , even if the weather is not !
Well , as we go to print for the second issue of the year , the weather has been kind to some but not as kind to others . Whatever the weather , wherever you are , in this magazine , you ’ ll find a review of Ripon Farm Services ’ superb open day as well as photos from YAMS and Farmstar ’ s latest event . All these events were very well attended and we hope you enjoy the coverage as much as we enjoyed visiting them ; along with plenty others .
ALSO in this issue our features editor Chris Berry has been talking to the Tesseymans of Spellow Grange Knaresbrough who have a large arable operation as well as a thriving contracting business ; tending to Rudding Park in all its glory .
Chris has also been to see the Haigh family at New Hall Farm in Lower Hopton ; a very exciting and inspiring operation covering a huge acreage with both cattle and arable farming , a fantastic Aberdeen Angus Herd and a superb farm shop . Also , Richard has just bought an old mill that used to produce blankets ! Very apt as we enter a cold snap .
Not one to be twiddling his thumbs , Chris has also been to see Lucinda , Director North of CLA . Lucinda is married to Will Douglas who farms with his brother John and their dad Michael . It ’ s a big operation . They have 700 acres arable and also contract farm a further 500 . They also have 700-900 cattle on at any one time to fatten and sell . They get through
3000 cattle a year . They also have an AD plant and wind turbine . A very interesting read indeed .
I went to the Ripon Farm open event at the Harrogate Conference Centre , which proved to be as busy as usual ; with Geoff Brown omnipresent and talking to customers . Sophie from marketing was just as busy ! As ever Ripon put on a great display and a lot of prep work went into the day . The event went very well , supported by manufacturers and ancillary suppliers .
We are always looking for farms to do features on ; you may be diversifying , have champion herds or flocks or just proud of what you do . The great thing for you the farmer , is that it doesn ’ t cost you a penny and is great publicity , please do get in contact if you are interested , and you may see yourself in the next Mart !
There is much more inside , so please read on ...
Owner & Managing Editor Ian Wilkinson
Potato growers : Plan blight control to reduce resistance risk
Total control failure in potato blight management product , mandipropamid ( Revus ) was confirmed in Europe in December ( 2022 ), meaning British growers must plan an anti-resistance strategy .
WHILE the resistant blight genotype ( EU43 ) is yet to be identified on British shores , UK farmers must act to protect potato crops , says Geoff Hailstone , potato lead at UPL UK . “ Blight strains that start in Europe inevitably make their way over here . So , farmers need to plan their blight control programmes carefully .” Aarhus University , Denmark and leading agri-chemical companies confirmed the resistance in a joint study . “ It is essential that all growers , regardless of varietal choice and fungicide programme , plan an anti-resistance strategy against potato blight ,” says a spokesperson for the University .
While a concern , blight resistance to fungicidal products is not a novel situation for UK growers , and lessons of the past have been learnt , says Mr Hailstone . “ As a result of previous fungicide resistance issues , the UK has a robust blight monitoring program and a responsible approach to control . British producers still have plenty of options to choose from , but solo product applications must be avoided .”
Instead , growers should consult their agronomists about product mixing , he adds . “ The advice should be to mix blight control products with at least one active ingredient from another group . And with each application , mixes need to be alternated .”
Growers should be mindful that all carboxylic acid amide ( CAA ) group fungicides , of which mandipropamid is one , could also pose a resistance threat . “ There is a cross-resistance risk between CAA products ,” says Mr Hailstone . “ CAA group products contain dimethomorph , benthiovalicarb , or mandipropamid . We need to monitor these fungicides , as there may be additional losses from this product group .
“ A prudent approach would be to look at mixing single-site products like mandipropamid with a multi-site product like Manzate 75 WG ( mancozeb ) or using Proxanil ( propamocarb + cymoxanil ) which contain actives from low-resistance-risk groups ,’’ he explains .
“ Later in the season , to control tuber blight and avoid issues in storage , Proxanil + Ranman Top ( cyazofamid ) are rated most effective on the Euroblight table .”
ISSUE 85 • FEBRUARY / MARCH 2023
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