Wintry Easter weather descended on Scotland as I write this and I am reminded of the critical importance of growing season and latitude to businesses I am involved in. In Cuba, Brazil and Paraguay, there are long warm growing seasons with an opportunity to double crop with two harvests in one year. In Scotland and Ireland, there is no such option and even a cover catch crop can be catchy . The long cool growing season in Scotland, with adequate moisture and long summer day-lengths makes for record yields, just like New Zealand on the opposite side of the globe at similar latitudes.
Plan to combat the plague of PCN
EXPERT: Prof Ian Toth says a national strategy is needed.
New research to tackle the growing scourge of Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) has been identified by a specialist Scottish Government working group.
Group member Professor Ian Toth of the James Hutton Institute told a meeting of the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) that an initial research programme costing £2.3m could begin within the next five years if funding is found.
The report, which has been submitted to the Scottish Government, will be published on the Plant Health Centre within the next two weeks.