•
DIAMONDBACKMOTH
•
•
NEWS
•
THE
VEGETABLE
FARMER •
MARCH 2017
The NFU says it has written to
processors and packers calling
for clarity and transparency in
the supply chain after potato
growers reported payment
deductions of up to 30 per cent
with little or no explanation.
The NFU is calling for full,
itemised breakdowns of
deductions to bemade available
within 48 hours, warning that a
lack of trust could cause long-
term harm to the sector. NFU
Potato Forum chairman Alex
Godfrey said growers needed
more information to better
understand the issues that were
resulting in deductions, so
changes can bemade. “It is
absolutely critical that growers
get full, clear, itemised
breakdowns of deductions so
they can understandwhere
issues are occurring on farm,”
he said. “It is not good enough
to expect growers to simply
accept levels of deductions like
this without reasonable
explanation.
“Farmers are telling us that
this situation is gettingworse,
not better. They are becoming
more andmore frustrated at the
scale of the problem, with some
processors and packers offering
little or no supporting data to
explain the reduction in
payment.”
He also said that while crop
which did not meet the primary
customer specification could be
used for other things, such as
value added processed products;
growers were not being
reimbursed for this.
“Packing businesses have
diversified to enable them to use
more of the crop and produce
products such as chilledmash or
wedges. There needs to be
recognition of the value of the
crop used for this purpose and a
reasonable reward for the
growers,” he added.
H
owever, following huge
numbers which affected
crops last summer across
the country, and reports that they
may be overwintering in parts of
south-west England, it may be
set to become one of themost
important brassica pests in
Britain.
Aworkshop organised by
AHDB Horticulture and the
Brassica Growers’ Association
(BGA) near Peterborough in
January, gave growers,
agronomists and others the
chance to learnmore about this
increasingly important insect and
to provide feedback on control
and research priorities.
Andrew Rutherford, Agronomy
Manager for KS Coles Ltd and
current BGA R&D Committee
Chairman presented an overview
of the pest from the perspective
of UK growers, having spoken to
producers across the UK. Brassica
growers have reported
diamondback moth (DBM) every
year for at least the last five
years, with 2016 being the worst
year to date. “One of themain
points is that DBM is a regular
pest now. We are expecting to
see it, and like aphids, we know
we will get it; it is a case of what
the levels will be,” he said,
adding that the period of activity
is increasing into the end of
September in the SouthWest of
England and there are even signs
that some populations may be
overwinteringwhere crops allow.
Crop covers can be amixed
blessing, particularly fleece on
early swede crops. If these fleece
covers remain intact, then they
are 100% effective in control, but
if they become damaged for
whatever reason, and DBM gets
under the covers, control is all
but impossible leading to serious
crop losses.
Cropmesh covers designed for
cabbage root fly control offer no
defence against DBM as the
moths can lay their eggs directly
through themesh onto the crop.
Once DBM is under themesh it is
then protected from beneficial
predators unable to access the
crop due to themesh. Overall,
control of DBM is more
challengingwith crops grown
under covers, and losses can be
devastating.
In terms of crop susceptibility
and damage, themost obvious
losses are due to physical
damage to products such as
cabbage and Brussels sprouts
leading to rejection, although the
reduction in size, for example of
sprout buttons, due to leaf
damage inhibiting
photosynthesis, can also have a
significant effect on yields.
The worst affected crops
appear to be Brussels sprouts,
swede and cabbage alongwith
spring greens. Kale and broccoli
appear to have suffered less
damage but it is not clear why.
“2016was a challenge,” said
Andrew. “In 2017we should be
better prepared, especially after
11
DIAMONDBACKMOTH
LIKELY TO BECOME
REGULAR UK PEST
by Richard Crowhurst
Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) has traditionally
been considered as an occasional migrant pest of brassica
crops in the UK.
Brassica grower Andrew Rutherford
of KS Coles Ltd.
Ian Hodgson.
Potatogrowers complain
about deductions
Tong appoints new Commercial Manager
Tong Engineering has
announced the appointment of
Ian Hodgson to the newly
created role of Commercial
Manager. The new role has been
developed as part of the
company’s ongoing commitment
tomaximising its capabilities
within the UK and Export
markets.
“Ian joins the Tong sales
division internally from his
previous role within the company
as Senior Buyer,” explains Edward
Tong, Managing Director. “He
will be working closely with the
sales team to offer support,
particularly on larger, turnkey
projects, ensuring commercial
structure throughout the sales
process, whilst helping to
enhance customer relations
throughout.”
Since joining Tong Engineering
in 2011, Ian has workedwith
some of the world’s leading
suppliers andmanufacturers to
source high quality and
innovative engineering
components, from SEW Eurodrive
motors, to NSK bearings and PPG
global paint. His experience in
this fieldwill bring invaluable
expertise to his new role as
Commercial Manager, particularly
throughout his involvement in
the specification of equipment
within Tong’s turnkey vegetable
handling solutions in the UK and
worldwide.
“Having startedmy career in
the vegetable handling industry
with several roles at Peal
Engineering, returning to Tong
Engineering in 2011 seemed like
a natural ‘next step’ for me,” said
Ian. “I’m looking forward tomy
new role as Commercial
Manager, working alongside the
sales team to achieve the
company’s ongoing commercial
strategy, whilst meeting our
customer’s requirements and
expectations on time andwithin
budget.”
