Innovative new products are helping growers to adapt to changing market and field conditions It’s believed the first potatoes to be grown for human consumption were produced in South America about 10,000 years ago. The method used to grow tubers hasn’t changed much since then: plant, water, feed, weed and harvest. Thankfully for today’s potato growers though, the instruments used to plant, care for and harvest them have greatly evolved. Spud Smart…
At one time, the only real tools a potato farmer needed were a trusty spade and a good strong back. While a little blood, sweat and tears can still go a long way in determining how successful a grower can be, having the right tools has become increasingly important. New developments in technology, mechanization, storage and breeding are allowing growers to produce more spuds with fewer resources. The challenge for many potato…
On Thursday, August 15, the new Grimme Field Loader arrived from Germany, and HJV Equipment in Alliston, Ont., has brought the first one to North America! Depending on harvest conditions, a single trailer of potatoes can contain up to 20 per cent soil and/or trash. This can amount to as much as 1,000 tons per 100 ha, according to studies by Grimme. The new Field Loader is designed to reduce this trash…
Growers of seed potatoes would like to know on which part of their parcel the potatoes grow best, and how the location influences the size of the potatoes. But during harvesting, hundreds of potatoes will roll into the harvesting machine at the same time. Wageningen University & Research is working with Aeres Hogeschool, the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Green Campus and several growers to study how this yield can be measured by…
Two years ago, Maritimer Pete Nieuwhof was contemplating ways to speed up packing of his farm’s fresh potato harvest. He found his answer with the EZ-Down, an ingenious device invented by a pair of fellow P.E.I. potato growers. “At the time, we were looking for something to speed up our production a little bit. We had an old homemade machine on the line. It was working well, but we wanted to upgrade so…
Any technology that helps maximize profit and minimize waste is welcome in agriculture, and potato farming is no exception. There are some recent updates on new and established scanning and handling systems now available or soon to be marketed. You have likely heard about the SmartSpud, a revolutionary Canadian device produced by Masitek Instruments of Moncton, N.B., that travels through potato equipment from harvester to packaging, mimicking a real potato. It provides…
It’s been five years since Austin Roberts and his wife Ramona joined forces with other P.E.I. potato farmers to successfully improve their industry for the better. In 2013, Austin (Kinkora Holdings) partnered with Marvyn Webster (Valley Grove Enterprises) and Andrew Lawless (Hilltop Produce) to built a pre-processing potato wash facility. “We felt that P.E.I. farmers as a group needed a safe and environmental option to clean and optimize product in a high-capacity…
Patates Dolbec’s potato packaging facility in Saint-Ubalde, Que., yesterday received a federal government investment of $4.5 million to offset its recent expansion and modernization project. The money is earmarked for the purchase and installation of new robotic equipment that will sort, grade and pack more fresh potatoes in less time, enabling the company to improve their product quality, lower operational costs and develop new markets in the United States. Canada’s food processing…
Paxiom has recently improved their WeighPack Systems PrimoCombi multi-head weigher. The new and improved system means operators have less to learn, technicians simplify troubleshooting, managers enjoy more uptime, and executives benefit from lower operating costs. The scale, highly conducive to food industry packaging, is constructed entirely in food grade 304 stainless steel and an open frame design leaves no small crevices for bacteria to hide. The PrimoCombi, available in various weigh-bucket configurations,…
Every two years, vendors and farmers meet in Hanover, Germany for Agritechnica, the world’s largest trade fair for agricultural machinery. This year, nearly 450,000 people walked the 26 halls looking at new innovations and production solutions. Spud Smart was there for a firsthand look at some of the latest innovations in the potato sector. Agritechnica is a big draw for farmers who want to stay on the cutting edge of technology. This…