Arable
Get familiar with CIPC alternatives
A store main duct pre-cleaning (left) and after cleaning (right).
Biox-M is a well-established treatment for the control of sprouting of potatoes in store. It is in widespread use in the UK and on the continent on crops destined for both fresh and processing markets.
Store cleaning advice post-CIPC …from previous page
While cleaning a potato store each season following the removal of the crop is an important step in store management – minimising disease risk and reducing residues of previously applied chemicals – it will take on greater significance for the 2020 crop. With sprout suppressant CIPC becoming unauthorised for use after 8th October 2020, with the advice for it not to be used at all in the autumn, a temporary maximum residue level (tMRL) is likely to be introduced in 2021. AHDB advises that cleaning stores as soon as they become empty, in an effective way, is imperative to prevent the 2020-harvested crop exceeding maximum residue levels. AHDB’s Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research senior scientist, Adrian Briddon (right) says that it is critical that water should not be used in the cleaning process, in order to prevent the contamination of natural drainage systems. “Get everything out of the store, including boxes and any ventilation equipment that can be moved,” he says. “Cleaning must take place from top to bottom, scraping off hard deposits, simultaneously brushing and vacuuming soil and debris and
vacuuming again to finish it off. Soil and debris will be contaminated waste and will need to be disposed of professionally, while an assessment will be needed in terms of operator exposure risks, he adds. “Every surface effectively needs to be brushed and vacuumed – go gentle on polyurethane surfaces and firm on woodwork and concrete floors,” he advises. Adrian suggests that boxes and other kit from the store should be left outside to weather as any exposure to air and UV radiation will help breakdown CIPC residues. “Bulk stores are probably most affected by residues where CIPC has been used for many years, and significant cleaning effort should be directed to the tunnels which are hot spots for CIPC. “When the stores have been emptied and thoroughly cleaned, leave the louvres open for the air to pass through which will also help reduce remaining residues. “In addition, store managers should keep records of store cleaning,” Adrian concludes. FG More AHDB advice on potato store cleaning in light of a new CIPC tMRL being introduced can be found at: www.ahdb.org.uk/ knowledge-library/store-cleaning
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The processing sector is now playing catch-up and seeking to learn from the 2019 harvest. Juno (Plant Protection) Ltd’s Nick Tapp.
The withdrawal of approval for CIPC as a sprout suppressant is sinking in, says Juno (Plant Protection) Ltd. There will be many stores treated with Biox-M for the first time this season, and it is essential that growers and store managers gain familiarity with a new product which requires particular diligence in store and crop management, adds the company. Biox-M has been approved for use as a sprout suppressant in the UK since 2012 and has been used on a wide range of British potato varieties with excellent sprout control. For crops destined for fresh and organic markets, Biox-M is well understood and in general use; it is part of the normal toolbox. The processing sector is now playing catch-up and seeking to learn as much as possible from the 2019 harvest. Trials using Biox-M in large commercial processing crop stores on the continent have proved highly successful, and a significant number of British growers of processing crops are undertaking commercial scale trials with the 2019 crop.
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Is 100 per cent naturally occurring spearmint oil, extracted from leaves of spearmint (mentha spicata) by on-farm steam distillation. Suppresses sprouting in potatoes by causing local necrosis of the bud meri-stem with no visible damage to the skin of the tuber. Should be applied just before eyes first ‘blink’; do not wait for sprout development. Is approved for use on organic potato crops, and can be used in multi-use stores. Is widely used on crops grown for the fresh market, with longevity of control well in excess of normal commercial requirements. Can be used on processing crops stored at up to 10ºC, allowing store managers to address concerns about the development of acrylamide. Has no harvest interval or MRL. Is applied to stores as a hot fog using existing technology. Leaves no residue in buildings or boxes. FG
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14 www.farmersguide.co.uk April 2020
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19/03/2020 15:59