27.07.2016

Field Day: seminar «SEED POTATOES AS BUSINESS FOR BUSINESS!»

Field Day in Chernigiv region
Field Day: seminar «SEED POTATOES AS BUSINESS FOR BUSINESS!»
On 27th July 2016, "Potato seeds as business to business!" seminar took place. The seminar was organized by TOV “Solana Ukraina” together with TOV “Zabarivske”, STOV “Desna” and supported by TOV “ADAMA Ukraine” as well as Dr. Akulov O.Yu., mycology and phyto-immunology department of KhNU im. Karazina.

Representatives of agricultural farms, colleagues from Germany and the Netherlands, and farmers from Norway were the participants of the seminar. They had the opportunity to visit the fields of "Avangard im. Skachka I.I." farm, discuss the experience of the company’s cooperation with "Solana" and discuss the question whether it is worthy to buy each time class A seeds for production of ware or processing potatoes. In addition, guests of the seminar visited the fields of STOV "Desna", where they could see the production of class A seeds, and the fields of TOV "Zabarivske" to see the production of class E seeds.

Also the partners from TOV "Adama Ukraine" presented the line of crop protection products for growing potatoes. Besides, the associate professor from mycology and phyto-immunology department of Kharkiv National University Akulov A.A. described the diversity of pathogens causing various types of scab and scarf diseases and ways for prevention of these diseases.

The most important issue of the seminar was the consideration of technological solutions that "Solana Ukraina" introduced to prevent the negative impact of climatic changes. Since the seed potato is the basis for our partners’ business that is a link in chain "business to business", and because "Solana Ukraine" bears full responsibility for the quality of seeds, which the company supplies to producers of ware potatoes, we drastically changed the technology of production of seed potatoes.

The main factors affecting the quality of the seed potatoes under current climatic conditions are:

а) overheating potatoes in ridge due to high temperatures;

б) loss of moisture of the soil during ridge formation if the formation is carried out after planting ;

с) drift of the center of the ridge relative to the mother-tubers (when forming the ridge), which causes new tubers formation on the one side of the ridge which in turn leads to overheating the tubers;

д) damaging during harvesting because of the small amount of soil on harvester conveyors (insufficient soil moisture);

е) damaging at long way on conveyors and hoppers to storage;

To reduce the impact of these factors on the quality of seed potatoes the specialists of "Solana Ukraina" with their partners in the production of seeds have made the following changes to cultivation technology:

а) introduced 90 cm-width between rows when planting, which makes it possible to form a ridge more than 100 cm in volume and thus to reduce moisture loss;

б) introduced simultaneous planting and ridge formation due to use of combined aggregate of planter and ridge former;

в) introduced harvesting with direct-flow harvester (hopper less harvester), so thus harvesting occurs directly to containers with following placement of containers under active ventilation in warehouse.

These solutions together with using of high-yield varieties make possible getting from this planting material an economically-grounded yield in all regions of Ukraine. Specialists of the company emphasized that following through technological guidelines when growing potatoes always brings positive results, both in the increasing total yield and in the improving its quality. A clear trend in increase of the yields during last three years is observed in farms that work with "Solana Ukraine". Thus, in farms growing potatoes without irrigation average yields increased from 27-29 t/ha to 38-45 t/ha during last three years, while in farms with irrigation – from 45 t/ha to 55 t/ha. At that, many varieties such as Labella and Granada demonstrate even greater yield of 60 t/ha on considerable areas, while with a unique variety Red Lady (so-called “Amerikanka”) the yield of 81 t/ha was reported. This increase in the yields is the result of all those technological changes that specialists of "Solana" annually introduce in seed growing technology. It is necessary to note positive changes in effective control of rhizoctonia, which enabled substantial increase in gross and qualitative indicators.

An important element in potato production technology is a good soil preparation. All the operations should be most effective for each of soil types. Further existence of the plants depends on how quick and how fine the soil is prepared. If there were any errors in soil preparation at the beginning of the season, then it would be very difficult or even impossible to correct them. Therefore, separate testing area was allocated just to show in dynamics the guests of the seminar how various machines affect soil condition and how typical mistakes can be avoided.

It's nice when business partners get good results. And it is doubly enjoyable when good farmers give excellent estimation of the performed work and good varieties. Thus, the real farmer and good manager from Chernigiv district, Pohribnyi Yu.P. marked that due to such varieties as Granada we have the present, but due to such varieties as Queen Anne we will have the future.

The company “Solana” is doing everything to respond quickly to the challenges of nature and the market, and trying to be a unique company that cares about its partners as members of a large family – family of potato growers. This endeavor is very natural and easily explained: "Solana" is a family business of the von Kameke family, and this commitment to family values can be felt at every step, in every word, and every action. We, as workers of “Solana Ukraina", responsibly declare that our partners are extremely valuable for us, and we are doing and will do everything we can in order to make your business successful and comfortable for you and your families!

At the end of the seminar the guests were entertained with traditional Cossack porridge, baked potatoes, lots of barbecue and watermelons, win-win lottery and artistic performance.

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