This Spotlight on Sustainability - Energy Use on Farms article in Issue 15 of PotatoLink Magazine explores costs on potato farms, highlights ways to measure it, and lists some practical solutions to optimise usage and reduce costs.

Andrew Tempra from Tempra Bros Pty Ltd, a grower from Manjimup, Western Australia, cultivates 35 hectares of potatoes annually, evenly split between fresh market supply and processing for French fries through WA Chip.

In Issue 15 of PotatoLink magazine, we caught up with Andrew to discuss his practices for improving soil health and potato quality on his farm.

Autonomous technology will change the way we farm; and probably sooner rather than later. With efficiency and sustainability closely linked, the advantages of autonomous robots are hard to ignore. Read more in Issue 15 of PotatoLink Magazine.

By focusing on these biosecurity fundamental practices discussed in Issue 15 of PotatoLink magazine, you can minimise the risk of devastating outbreaks and ensure a sustainable future for potato production.

The rising cost of inputs has growers searching for ways to enhance nutrient use efficiency and understand its impact on pack-out and yield. A previous trial at the PotatoLink demonstration site in Springbank (Victoria) explored how farm practices impact the effectiveness of biologicals, including fungicide application, soil nutrient availability, and fertiliser use. The positive results from that trial, including improvements in tuber size, quantity, and specific gravity, shaped the objectives for this new trial.

Growing crops in Australia is not for the faint-hearted, especially when it comes to managing water. The challenge lies in the fact that we often have either too little or too much water, and not always at the right time. Farmers cannot rely on gentle, frequent rain to replenish soil water levels; managing water for crops needs deliberate and considered intervention. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink Magazine.

As the global community grapples with the impacts of climate change, the horticultural sector faces mounting pressure to transition towards more sustainable practices, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture production. In Australia, there is plenty of scope for potato farms to adopt various strategies to begin their journey to reduced emissions from production. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.

The exotic Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (CPB) is globally considered one of the most economically damaging pests to the potato industry. CPB is native to North America and widespread. It has hitchhiked its way to Europe and northern Asia, where it has since spread rapidly and established. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.

Handling and storing seed correctly is essential to maximise returns on this valuable investment, and avoiding condensation during cooling is critical to minimise the risk of storage diseases. To achieve this, seed potatoes are usually cooled very slowly, dropping only 2^oC weekly. In this PotatoLink trial, we tested the effects of three cooling rates. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.

Just like us, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to defend themselves against pests and pathogens. One of the most intriguing strategies is 'Induced Systemic Resistance' (ISR). Specific microbes or environmental triggers can activate the plant defences, improving its ability to ward off attack or cope with stress. And we can help that happen. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.

When the potatoes have been harvested, graded and put into storage a great weight has been lifted. The spuds aren’t going to be stuck in the ground due to late season rain. Grubs and bugs aren’t going to start affecting the tubers, and it looks like most of the disease issues have been avoided. They’re safe. Except there is another consideration, and that is storage diseases, discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.

Harvest is where all the effort and expense that has gone into growing the crop finally comes to ‘tuberition’. It is where money can be made or lost, and where the grower finally, conclusively, finds out what has been happening under their feet. Read about how to get the most out of your harvest and how to correctly store potatoes in this PotatoLink magazine article.

In the PotatoLink magazine, the Spud GP answers the question: I’ve noticed a few leaves getting chewed on plants around the edge of the paddock, but I can’t see any insects on there – what’s causing this?

Beyond providing soil moisture data at a given time and soil depth, can soil moisture probes help in making future irrigation decisions? The potential of moisture probes to serve a dual role was the subject of a PotatoLink demonstration trial are discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.

During the Australian summer, potatoes are susceptible to various pests and diseases that can thrive in the warm and humid conditions. Get the mini guide in this PotatoLink Magazine article.

The soil ecosystem directly impacts crop yield and quality. In recent years, there has been growing interest in sustainable farming practices that improve soil's biological, chemical and physical characteristics. Biofumigation is one of these sustainable practices discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.

Three new species of Lyriomyza leafminer flies are now present in Australia including, American Serpentine Leafminer (ASLM (Liriomyza trifolii)), Serpentine Leafminer (SLM (Liriomyza huidobrensis)), and Vegetable Leafminer (VLM (Liriomyza sativae)). Read more in this PotatoLink magazine article by Shakira Johnson, AUSVEG.

What happens when climate change impacts one of the world’s most important foods? With a burgeoning global population, food security is one of the most complex problems of our time, and our rapidly warming planet complicates the problem further. Read more in this PotatoLink magazine article.

A recent PotatoLink demonstration trial at Springbank, Vic, investigated the impact of farm practices on the effectiveness of biologicals, including the application of fungicides, the influence of soil nutrient availability, and fertiliser applications. In Issue 10 of PotatoLink magazine you will find all the details of the trial as well as the results.

Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority (AuSPICA) has introduced an innovative solution to monitor insect vectors in potato crops. Passive suction traps installed in the field take samples of potential virus vectors, which are then sent to Intertek laboratories for rapid DNA analysis. The data developed builds information on the presence of potato virus vectors during the growing season and in the long term, builds trends on vector populations in potato growing regions.

Read the full story in Issue 10 of PotatoLink magazine.