Vegetable News September 2009

CAFRE have organised a workshop on integrated crop protection in protected crops to take place on Tuesday 13 October in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown  commencing at 7 pm This workshop is targeted  at growers  of the following crops under cover, soft fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and organics.

Neil Helyer, Integrated Pest Management Specialist for Fagro and Syngenta Bioline will give a practical talk on the use of and identification of biological control agents to control pests and diseases in protected crops. Examples include;

During the workshop, growers will have an opportunity to discuss specific problems with Terry Horsman, Technical Officer, Fagro

If you would like further information on the integrated crop protection workshop, contact Dr Anne Stone, Edible Crops Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus on 028 94 426683, Mobile Tel No 07500 957895 or by email at anne.stone@dardni.gov.uk

CAFRE are organising a vegetable production course for people wishing to improve their knowledge and skills in vegetable production. The course is targeted at people whom have little or no experience of vegetable production for delivery during October/November.

The course includes an opportunity to see main vegetable crops on commercial growers’ holdings.

Session 1 (evening) Finding a market, packing and preparation for market, essential machinery and equipment.

Session 2 (evening) Soil testing, fertilisers, sources of vegetable seeds and young plants, crop protection.

Session 3 The practicalities of carrots and parsnips, on the farm of Messrs. Robin and Ivan McKee of Comber, followed by leeks, scallions, parsnip and celery with Mr Roy Lyttle of Newtownards.

Session 4 Growing cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflowers and other brassicas, with Mr John Herron of Comber.

Session 5 (evening) The value of polytunnels, erection, cladding and irrigation of tunnels. Planning tunnel cropping to match market demand.      

Those who are only interested in polytunnel growing may register for this session alone.

The on-farm sessions are restricted to those who have also attended the evening theory sessions.

If you or a family member would like further information on the beginners’ course in vegetable production,

contact Dr Anne Stone, Edible Crops Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus on 028 94 426683, Mobile Tel No 07500 957895 or by email at anne.stone@dardni.gov.uk

CAFRE is planning a voluntary training programme for delivery over the winter for those growers who are not currently in one of the farm assurance schemes and would like to gain quality assurance. The training, for delivery over the autumn and winter, will help businesses prepare for both CMI and Tesco’s Nature. These two standards are similar with the same processes applicable to both.

Going down the farm assurance route is a big decision for your business. It opens up new markets, but involves investment and more record keeping. The first session of the course, on Tuesday October 27, will outline details of the quality assurance training programme. Following this session, your business will be better informed on quality assurance programmes for the edible crop sector.

For further information or to express an interest please contact Dr Anne Stone, Edible Crops Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus on 028 94 426683, Mobile Tel No 07500 957895 or by email at anne.stone@dardni.gov.uk

Some growers may wish to use a software package to record sprays and fertilisers. In order to plan the training it would help to know who will be computerising their record keeping.

Some growers may also require training in the following FEPA spraying courses:

PA1 (foundation module),

PA2 (tractor mounted boom sprayer) PA4 (Granule application).

Contact Charlene Graffin at Greenmount Campus as soon as possible for an application form for FEPA training (Tel 02894 426704)

There is a new SOLA, 2424/09 permitting the use of thiacloprid (Biscaya) on carrots, parsnips, red beet and some minor root vegetables.

A maximum of two sprays of 0.4l/ha are allowed, against aphids including carrot willow aphid. The harvest interval is 14 days.  This is the only neo-nicotinoid approved for these crops and as such is an addition to the armoury.

However growers should be aware that a recent report suggests that neo-nicotinoids are particularly harmful to bees and should be used as little as possible. The only pesticide of this group in common use on vegetables is Biscaya, used mainly against mealy aphid in Brassica crops.

Propyzamide, as Kerb Flo, has a new SOLA 1902/09 for use on broccoli and cauliflower up to 10 days after planting.

With the expiry of trifluralin and propachlor (Ramrod) growers will be left relying heavily on metazachlor (Butisan, Marshona and so on). Where a problem is expected with redshank, fat hen, knotgrass, fumitory or grass weeds, Kerb Flo could improve weed control. Check the section of the label concerning lettuce for the full list of weeds controlled. There is no information available if Kerb Flo can be safely mixed with Butisan. As with all SOLAs application is at the grower’s risk.     

A striking case of toxicity occurred this year where Gamit 36 was mixed with Butisan for pre-emergence weed control in a field of cauliflower and broccoli. The broccoli showed little damage, but the cauliflower developed broad white leaf margins. The grower felt that final yield had probably not been affected, but is now spraying   Gamit 36 after Butisan rather than mixing the two chemicals. The mixing of Butisan with Gamit 36 is probably safe on more clayey soils, the field affected had quite sandy soil. The SOLA for use of Gamit 36 on these crops (1275/09) states that the seedlings should have hardened off before spraying.

An advantage of applying Gamit 36 a few weeks after transplanting is that small weeds may have emerged and Gamit has some post-emergence effect, particularly on chickweed.   

Dr Anne Stone
Edible Crops Development Advisor
Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Telephone (office) 028 94426683  (mobile) 07500 957895