Potatoes at Cereals...
26 May 2009
Branston is to become the first potato supplier to exhibit at Cereals, an event which has historically focused on the arable side of farming.
Branston will use Cereals 2009 to showcase its range of environmentally friendly biocontrols as well as introducing visitors to a number of its exclusive potato varieties.
“We are delighted to be exhibiting at Cereals this year,” says Dr David Nelson, Branston Field Director. “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for us to show people how much we’re growing, particularly with the development of our seed business and our recent expansion into the processing market. There is a great deal of cross over between potatoes and cereals, with many of our suppliers working in both sectors. It’s great news that Cereals is now open to a broader range of exhibitors and we’re looking forward to meeting new growers and catching up with some old friends.”
Branston will be showcasing a small selection of its exclusive varieties on the plot. From the partnership with Germicopa, varieties include the gourmet salad Juliette and the crisper Sassy. New varieties from other breeding companies include the white pre-pack/bakers Saphire and Lanorma, which offer excellent resistance to most skin finish diseases.
But it’s not just about the potatoes. Branston invests heavily in R & D to find innovative products to help growers in the battle against pests and diseases. The Branston plot will feature Curegro and Fumigro: hot mustard mixes that can be used for natural fumigation of the soil prior to planting. It will also be used to trial a number of brassica and radish mixes with biofumigant potential.
Branston’s trap crop, Foil-sis, will also be on show, with experts on hand to detail progress in developing its efficacy against both Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) and Root-Knot Nematode (RKN).
Inside the Branston marquee visitors will discover an intriguing exhibition of some of the potato grower’s most hated pests and diseases and have the opportunity to see biological slug control in action. Nemaslug® Xtra has been specially developed to target slugs below ground, utilising naturally occurring microscopic nematodes which actively seek out slugs in the soil. On locating a slug, they enter through natural body openings and infect their host. They rapidly multiply inside the dying slug and as the food source dwindles, spread back into the soil to look for fresh hosts.
Cereals is the leading technical event for the UK arable industry, attracting 400 leading suppliers, over 29,000 farmers and experts to its 64ha of stands and live demonstrations. It takes place on 10th and 11th June at Vine Farm, Wendy, near Royston.
Branston can be found on Stand 940.