Spud Watch: Imazalil label change creates harvesting headache

Harvest has been relatively straightforward to date with many seed potato growers having completed lifting the crop.

For ware growers, the dry soil conditions have caused some issues with bruising and irrigation is being used.

Andy Steven, Agrovista

The withdrawal and replacement of imazalil at the end of September caused issues with crops being harvested and treated at the same time.

The new label is less flexible and only allows treatment of seed crops so anyone hoping to market “tops” as ware is going to have to reassess their procedures.

See also: How cover crops and chitting practices benefit spud growers

Crops will have to be split at harvesting and then treated or treatment left until grading.

The latter option may lead to more crops affected with dry rot in the future. Low levels of powdery scab will make inspectors just as tricky to deal with.