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Storing potatoes starts with good cooperation
When Chlorine IPC was banned by the government, it was a bit of a shock for many growers. Also for arable farmer André Visser from Biddinghuizen. "How are we going to do that again?" was his first reaction. We are now almost three years later and it appears that the storage of the potatoes also works well with other means. But it does require a completely different approach: "Chlorine IPC was cheaper and easier to use. Now you have to think a lot more about which substance to use and when." André is pleased with the advice of arable consultant and storage specialist at Van Iperen, Piet-Jan van der Eijk.
Piet-Jan: "Good storage already starts in the preliminary phase. Variety selection, growing season, stress and also the harvesting conditions determine the germination of the potatoes. It is important that a quality product is driven into the shed at the end of the season. Then you can deliver a good product later with the right storage. A less product is never better in storage." André: "We are dealing with fairly heavy soil here. This ensures a high yield and good quality potatoes, which you can also store for longer. For example, we only deliver the Innovator from June without having to use mechanical cooling. ."
New start in the polder
The Visser family originally comes from North Holland. The farm was actually too small, so contract work was also done. Such as spraying, combining, harvesting and pressing straw bales. "Because we were one of the few to be able to press large bales, we were also hired in the Flevopolder at that time. Even as far as Emmeloord. When there was less and less space left for farming in North Holland, my father knew. where he wanted to start again. And so we bought this farm in Biddinghuizen in 2000." On approximately 85 hectares (consumption) potatoes (Agria and Innovator), seed onions, carrots, sugar beet, grass seed and winter wheat are grown. And even now contract work is an important part of the company. "That is mainly my father's passion, I am really into cultivation and preferably on the land."
Longer in dormancy
According to Piet-Jan, proper storage of the potatoes starts with the use of MH. The agent, which is sprayed during the growing season, ensures that the potatoes in storage remain dormant for longer. "The effectiveness of the agent is highly dependent on the weather and the growth stage of the crop. Once the crop has returned, the agent is absorbed less. And then you have to use more resources in storage. The best moment is if the foliage is still vital for three to five weeks at the time of spraying." André: "This year it is very dry and we watered first, luckily that is still possible here, otherwise the crop will not absorb anything."
'Fan of this remedy'
André: "We use 1,4 Sight in storage to extend dormancy. I am a big fan of that drug. If you start on time, it works perfectly. To determine the right moment, I a quantity of potatoes from storage to the canteen. The moment they started to germinate, it was a matter of calculating backwards based on the temperature difference between canteen and storage. And that worked. Until the end of the delivery the potatoes are dormant and of high quality, which is why the buyer was the last to pick up our stock."
Good ventilation
Piet-Jan: "For an optimal effect of 1,4 Sight, it is important to take the right measures. First of all, the storage must be completely lockable. The product must be able to do its work for 48 hours. You must ventilate well beforehand. , so that the CO2 content is as low as possible. And the temperature has to be right. You also have to ventilate well afterwards, because otherwise the CO2 content will become too high." With less tame varieties it can be useful to burn off the germs during the storage season. Two new agents are used for this: orange peel concentrate Argos and mint oil Biox-M. Visser, however, has not yet had to use it.
Always abreast of developments
André outsourced the gassing of the potatoes to Van Iperen. In addition, he makes the fertilization plan together with Piet-Jan and Van Iperen supplies the required fertilizers. André: "We are constantly dealing with changes. It is impossible for an individual arable farmer to keep abreast of everything. Especially in the field of crop protection, the challenges are great. Because Van Iperen does many tests, they also know whether new resources that come onto the market, work and how I can best apply them.I also think it is important that they come to companies throughout the Netherlands, so that they have an overview of new developments and are also aware of the pests and If you know, for example, that phytophthora has appeared somewhere, you can expect it here in due course. And then I know in good time what to do."
Advice for your retention strategy?
Are your potatoes going into storage and would you like advice? Take it without obligation contact contact one of Van Iperen's storage specialists or click here for more information.
