Growing quality potatoes is fundamental to the success of the business, which relies on attention to detail to help ensure crops achieve maximum value in a competitive market. Two cold stores totaling 2200t and a 900t of ambient bulk storage mean potatoes can be supplied to customers from November to June. Average yields are around 17t to20t\/ac depending on the variety such as Markies, Sagitta and Maris Piper.<\/p>\n
Soils across the farm are black to medium fen but potatoes are kept off any heavy land on the farm. The farm has irrigation which is predominantly used for onions and potatoes when needed.<\/p>\n
Pressure on time and issues with the quality of bagged fertiliser last year resulted in the company switching to OMEX. Sulphur in the bags kept blocking the applicator.<\/p>\n
The potato fertilising operation always used to be a three man operation \u2013 one on the forklift, another on the spreader and one delivering fertiliser to the field. Fertiliser would be taken to the field on a trailer and then seed bought separately. The operator would then fill the planter with seed as well as fertiliser.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process never used to run smoothly because we could not get both applications synchronised,\u201d he says. \u201cPlanting became a slow operation, and despite being land wheel driven we couldn\u2019t get the accuracy when travelling at speeds greater than 3kph.<\/p>\n
\u201cGranular fertiliser is also a bulky product to store and it was often delivered when inconvenient or there was nobody in the yard to receive it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The switch to OMEX delivered and spread suspension fertiliser<\/a> service coincided with an increase in potato acres grown from 70ac to 120ac, but significant benefits of this system \u2013 including freeing up labour and storage space as well as low maintenance and repairs \u2013 meant that the acreage jumped again to 160ac.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we realised that our fertiliser regime needed addressing we used the opportunity of the Cereals event<\/a> to go and see OMEX to discuss our concerns and options,\u201d explains Mr Caton.<\/p>\n\u201cWe really liked the way the company operated. Originally we thought we would do a trial first to compare a granular system with delivered and spread suspension application<\/a>. In the end we just went for it having been convinced of the benefits. Switching to OMEX has made a significant impact on our potato operation. Our crops are more even and uniform across the whole field, including the headlands.”<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Fertiliser](\"https:\/\/www.omex.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/David-and-Tom-Caton-4-250x167.jpg\")
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