A spud-tastic day for our potato growers

This year it takes place on June 19 and grower Jonathan Bubb will host the day's programme at Lynn South Farm, Newport. The day always covers a wide agenda. This year is no different, with topics that the region's growers will find of particular interest.

The morning's talks will examine some exciting topics. We'll be looking at One Voice, the Potato Council's campaign to encourage the industry topromote the natural goodness of potatoes via a simple set of messages. We'll also have the latest market overview of potato consumption and we'll be looking at efficiencies in production, plus – another issue close the hearts of many potato growers – the competition for land and a 'risk v reward' debate which I know will be a lively session.

The afternoon sessions will offer practical demonstrations, allowing people to choose what aspects of the industry to look at more closely. These include topics such as potato cyst nematode, with demonstration plots showing the value of varieties tolerant of and resistant to PCN compared to susceptible varieties. PCN is considered one of the major threats to potato yields in Britain so this session will prove invaluable for those dealing with this challenge.

A second session will provide cultivation demonstrations, comparing different machinery and the effects they have on soil profiles – key to giving your planted crop a strong rooting system and the best start in the new season.

Bruising and damage costs the potato industry about £200 per hectare each year. This session will discuss best practice at harvest, led by grading equipment experts, Tong Peal.

Driving efficiency in store can really help to maintain profitability for your crops and Dr Jonathan Scurlock of the NFU will look at how renewable energy can be used to power potato stores and save money.

A further session option, led by Britain's leading crop storage experts, Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, and Crop Systems Ltd will demonstrate the 'dos and don'ts' of sprout suppression and the best practice of building a potato store, the importance of using inverter fans and maintaining correct air flow, all crucial to protect crops in store.

West Midlands Potato Day will be an unmissable event for Shropshire's potato growers. Get updates on this event at http://www.potato.org.uk/events/west-midlands-potato-day-2014 Details of all Potato Council events and technical and consumer campaigns can be found at www.potato.org.uk