AF Root Crops

The winding up of AHDB Potatoes following the vote against the continuation of the levy last March, has led to several proposals for new representative bodies in the potato sector to fill the funding gap.

For the second year, Defra has approved the emergency authorisation (EA) of the neonicotinoid seed treatment, Cruiser SB (thiamethoxam), following an application from British Sugar and NFU Sugar.

The Government has launched consultations to modernise and simplify water abstraction regulation in England and enhance the Environment Agency’s (EA) powers to protect groundwater resources.

In the last of our series, Farmers Guardian talks to two agronomists in the east and southwest to review the 2021 potato season and what lessons can be taken into next year.

WITH British Sugar’s Bury St Edmunds factory opening earlier than usual this year, the 2021/22 sugar beet campaign has kicked off in Suffolk.

Growers have until the end of November 2022 to use up all stocks of cyproconazole containing products.

FARMERS could see increases to the costs of abstraction licences and charges for the volume of water taken as part of the Environment Agency’s (EA) first overhaul of the system in 10 years.

Unless a new agreement can be negotiated between the EU and the UK, the trade in seed potatoes either way across the English Channel can be considered to have ceased.

This year’s Potatoes in Practice was the first major industry event since levy payers voted against supporting AHDB Potatoes.

British Sugar has responded to requests for greater flexibility.