A new monitoring system for potato stores can alert growers of temperature fluctuations by text message. The RobyText Alert RT300 – launched at British Potato 2007 – runs independently of any store control system and is aimed at growers with remote, unmanned stores.

Up to eight temperature probes can be linked to the unit, which can be set to provide regular text updates of store temperature and will alert up to four different mobile numbers if temperatures move outside a user-defined range.

Prices start at £590 + VAT for a single sensor unit and increase to around £950 + VAT for the unit plus eight probes.