Specific spuds for consumer needs
THERE”S NO denying that supermarket pressure, itself largely spurred by inter-firm competition, increasingly affects the way potatoes are produced by the Stevenson brothers.
Indeed their independent agronomist, David Hudson, believes it is the main reason that several other non-family growers in the area have dropped the crop.
“It affects me in a big way as I have to be aware of and understand the protocols they are working to,” he says. “It”s not just Assured Produce – there”s Tesco”s Nature”s Choice, Waitrose”s requirements and several others.”
Each impacts in a slightly different way, and Mr Hudson says it is a tribute to the brothers” dedication that the business continues to thrive by reacting accordingly.
Allan”s philosophy of trying to anticipate those requirements is a big advantage, he believes. “His idea is that we ought to be offering something no-one else can to stay one jump ahead.”
Inevitably buyers” demands, for example on variety, tuber sizes and chemical inputs, will change. Yet his main concern lies not in tighter protocols but the declining demand for fresh potatoes. These are the only viable option for the Stevensons on their mainly clay soils which cannot deliver competitive yields of processing varieties.
“At the moment the UK consumption ratio is about 50:50 processed to fresh. In the USA it”s already 80:20 [in favour of processed].
“What the supermarkets want is changing all the time.”
A notable example last year was Asda demanding a 40mm bottom riddle for King Edwards, whereas the normal requirement is 45 or 50mm. Changes like that directly affect seed rate and harvester web size decisions, he explains.
“Getting them wrong can lose 3-5t/ha.”
Mr Hudson believes the Stevenson”s close relationship with Scottish seed producers, ensuring that blackleg and skin spot risks are minimised, is typical of the way ahead for success in the fresh sector.
He is especially looking forward to this season”s first results from a new initiative with Nairn-based Craggie Farms based on BPC-funded work at Cambs University Farms.
The aim, for Waitrose, is to plant King Edward seed that throws fewer tubers to increase the ware”s saleable size, he explains.
“It”s quite tricky because it involves manipulating daughter tuber numbers, which means the seed producer has to plant exceptionally late.”
That creates extra risk for Craggie, especially if the Stevensons were to change their minds. “That”s taken account in the price negotiation but there is also a lot of trust involved.”
Environmental quality indices (EQI) for potato pesticide inputs are likely to come much more to the fore on the farm in future, Mr Hudson believes.
The reasoning behind them is that it is not the weight of an active ingredient applied that matters but its scientifically assessed impact. The scheme was developed for Waitrose by Solanum with help from SAC.
“Allan had a big part to play in the scheme”s development and hasn”t used sulphuric acid for desiccation for six years,” he notes.
Fortunately all the land the Stevensons farm is eelworm-free which avoids them having to use nematicides.
But finding suitable potato-growing ground to rent in the area and still please packers and supermarkets with a top quality product remains a challenge on two counts.
“Allan is particularly demanding in terms of soil structure and texture but especially on a field”s potato history now that we are dogged with soil-borne diseases like black dot.”
Getting irrigation, essential for top quality tubers, to off-lying fields is the other main problem – dealt with by brother Andrew.
Most of the soils are chalky boulder clay. “They have the ability to produce a really good skin finish if the weather is kind and you can produce a good tilth.
“But for pre-packs we just can”t afford to have the ridges drying out even for the odd week as the tubers tend to get scaly skins. Even if the quality doesn”t go the yield certainly does.”
