The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2018 - Issue 59 | Page 26

26 ARABLE
OCT/NOV 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
John Nix Pocketbook Prepares for 2019 and
Considers how to deal with Brexit in Farming
“AS the clock ticks to-
wards the UK’s withdrawal
from the European Union
and we await details of
new agricultural policy
and trade, UK farmers are
preparing for change. Not
knowing whether it will
become harder or easier
to farm profitably makes it
more important than ever
that farmers take greater
control of the management
of their business.” John Nix
Farm Management Pocket-
book.
Recently published
research by AHDB claims
those who outperform the
average farmer in each
sector and especially
reach the top quartile, are
likely to remain viable in a
post-Brexit world, regard-
less of support and trade
deal outcomes. The John
Nix Pocketbook helps to
identify the differences
between performance
sectors. It provides details
on each performance cat-
egory to allow farmers to
compare their figures with
those budgeted for 2019.
This covers gross margins
and overheads in detail
too; differences in over-
heads usually account for
the biggest cost difference
between the best and the
rest, so this book provides
clues to reducing costs on
each farm whilst keeping
output high.
The farming outlook for
2019 is mixed according to
the Pocketbook figures,
with some sectors, mostly
in the arable side of farm-
ing looking brighter than for
2018, but for other farming
types, it is looking more
challenging. Whilst some
sectors like dairy farming,
where output prices are
seen rising, so too are costs
making it challenging to re-
tain the additional income
as profit.
Tools like the John Nix
Pocketbook are, ever
more necessary for prof-
itable farm management.
Brexit or no Brexit; farming
will continue, and this
resource is there to help
ensure your farm remains
viable long term.
The Pocketbook costs
£28.00 +P&P.
Visit www.thepocketbook.
co.uk to purchase a copy.
Major deal signed allowing export
of UK seed potatoes to China
The deal is expected to bring major benefits to Scotland, with around 70% of
seed potatoes exported annually from the UK coming from Scottish farms.
CHINA’S developing taste for chips and
crisps will soon be fuelled by British pro-
duce, as International Trade Secretary Dr
Liam Fox MP secures a deal which enables
the UK to export seed potatoes to China.
The deal is expected to bring major ben-
efits to Scotland, with around 70% of the
100,000 tonnes of seed potatoes exported
annually from the UK coming from Scottish
farms. The seed potato export market is
already worth an annual £90 million to the
UK, with some varieties fetching up to £900
per tonne.
China is the largest global consumer of
potatoes in the world. As the country’s
demand for potato-based foods increases,
the humble spud is now China’s fourth sta-
ple crop after rice, corn and wheat – with
demand increasing at a rapid rate.
It follows news that the UK dairy sector is
set to receive a multi-million pound export
boost, with Dr Fox meeting with the Chi-
nese government to reach an agreement
to allow the import of UK dairy products
made with milk from third countries into
China.
The agreement was signed by the Inter-
national Trade Secretary during his visit to
China. Dr Fox is also meeting businesses
and senior Chinese government ministers
to discuss further trading opportunities
between the 2 countries.
Drought 2018 still posing questions to potato growers
A special storage session at the
final AHDB Strategic Farm field
walk of the season saw discussion
on the challenges caused by this
summer’s drought.
The session was added to the
planned trials programme at the
Adrian Cunnington
Elveden Estate in West Suffolk to
give growers and store managers
a chance to share experiences
and ideas.
Simon Alexander of S.A. Con-
sulting chaired discussions and
said by harvest it was a balancing
act between catching up on yield
and achieving the quality required
to store effectively.
“What you need to do to
achieve one doesn’t necessarily
help the other,” he added.
AHDB has a free storage advice
line for growers and released an
updated Potato Store Managers’
Guide earlier in the summer.
Adrian Cunnington, who edited
the guide, said that best practice
becomes particularly important in
difficult times.
“When a crop comes into store
it needs a good set skin to protect
it from weight loss and disease.
Make sure it can be dried, cured
and cooled effectively.
“Unimpeded air circulation is
very important. If tuber size is
below average, as may be the case
this year, this restricts airflow, so
make sure not to overfill boxes as
that will create further problems.”
After the storage discussion the
group moved on to field plots to
discuss this year’s trials on PCN
management and nitrogen use.
Andrew Francis
The event marked the end of
the third and final growing season
of Elveden’s participation in the
Strategic Farm programme.
Simon Alexander (right) Mark
Stalham and Graham Bannister
potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/
storemanagersguide.
www.ahdb.org.uk