Despite the improved weather, UK potato growers are still seeing the repercussions of the rain with one of the worst blight seasons in living memory.

According to UAP potato specialist Barrie Florendine, though, if growers play their cards right, it might still be possible to save the crop.

"It was unprecedented how early the blight got into the crop this season and, despite the use of the best chemistry available, growers were unable to do much about it," explained Florendine. "When the weather broke in early June it was, in some cases, twenty days later when growers were able to get back on the land to spray.”

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. "Crops are bulking up and while growers might be finding blight in the haulm, the priority now must be to prevent the disease from getting down into the tubers,” Florendine continued.

A major problem now, according to the manufacturers, is that there has been a shortage of three key fungicide choices in the fight against tuber blight infection - Infinito (fluopicolide), Ranman (cyazofamid), and Volly/Shirlan (fluazinam), which due to high demand are very much in and out of stock at the moment.

"Growers will also have to start thinking ahead to post-harvest issues such as storing tramlined potatoes separately from the rest of the crop, particularly in bulk storage situations. Harvest and storage issues are yet to come but it is something to be aware of at this stage," Florendine said.

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