Timely reminder on PCN

As the key period for PCN control and granule application approaches, the chairman of the cross-industry Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) has issued a reminder to potato growers about the protocol and best-practice guidelines.
“Understanding pressure in the field is a key step in our guidance,” said Patrick Mitton. “As part of this, we’ve been working with AHDB on a new PCN Soil Sampling Guide. This is a welcome update on current understanding of PCN management and control. It brings together scientific knowledge and practical experience of sustainable integrated management techniques which will be extremely valuable to growers and agronomists alike.
“These are all important developments in understanding more about PCN control for the NSP to share and promote to farmers and operators. Through encouraging best practice, we can make sure these products continue to support the industry.’
The Nematicide Stewardship Programme was launched in May 2015 with the collaboration of DuPont, Certis and Syngenta to promote the correct use of their respective PCN treatments, Vydate, Mocap and Nemathorin. The programme is supported by NFU, AHDB Potatoes, NIAB, Potato Processors Association and Fresh Produce Suppliers Association, Richard Austin Agriculture Ltd and Agrii.
Researchers and agronomists are said to be united in a call for more reliable PCN testing and have welcomed the release of AHDB’s new guide which draws on levy-funded research aimed at assessing the effectiveness of soil sampling techniques. The work was conducted by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS)