TRADE AND MARKET I NG Closed potato market in Norway keeps the local potato chain afloat Overhalla Klonavlssenter has fifty varieties in stock. cultivates the Celandine, Laila, Evolution, Arielle, Nansen, Oleva and Mandel varieties. The total farm area is 40 hectares, where she also grows barley, oats and grass. Part of the area is included in the farming plan of a livestock farm in the region. Harvesting at the beginning of September Engstad took over the farm from her parents two years ago and also works one day a week as a therapist. This year, she planted her last potatoes at the end of May and she’s planning to harvest at the beginning of September. The yield depends on the year and the variety and is between 25 and 30 tons per hectare. Significant pests in the crop are Phytophthora and A virus. She is now fighting the virus for the second year running with 10 litres of oil per hectare in combination with Teppeki. A-virus is currently the biggest problem in the cultivation of seed potatoes, according to Silia. In five years’ time, she wants to invest in extra storage space for the potatoes. Expanding through the purchase of land is very difficult, because there’s little farmland available. The price of land is between 8,000 and 10,000 euros per hectare. Land rent costs 1,000 euros per hectare. Bacterial problem is increasing In the area near Brumundda in the south, on the Kvarstad gård farm, seed potato grower Hans Frogner notices that the weather is having a major influence on his growing season. In mid-June, he hasn’t yet been able to plant his potatoes. Together with trader Hans Arne Krogsti of the Strand seed potato trading company, he examines at the seed potatoes in his box storage. Every year, Frogner buys fourth generation seed from seed potato growers around the village of Overhalla. He multiplies this planting stock and then Hans Arne Krogsti (l) and Hans Frogner point out that the seed potato market is growing every year, because the increasingly professional ware potato growers are replacing more and more seed potatoes every year. Expanding through the purchase of land is very difficult for seed potato grower Silia, because there’s little farmland available. sells it to trader Strand, one of largest traders in Norway. In total, 53 growers sell their seed potatoes to this trading company. Krogsti proudly tells us that he likes to test new varieties in order to develop the Norwegian sector. This year, he’s cultivating the Fontane variety on a larger scale to investigate the possibilities for chips processing under special conditions. He also points out that the seed potato market is growing every year, because the increasingly professional ware potato growers are replacing more and more seed potatoes every year. ‘Fresh seed potatoes, provided the quality is good, ensure a good start for ware potato cultivation’, says Krogsti. Nematodes pose a threat to cultivation, according to Krogsti. ‘That’s why we also do tests with the widely-resistant Dutch Monte Carlo and Toronto varieties from the TPC trading company in Emmeloord.’ In addition, bacterial diseases pose a major problem. In this context, Strand works closely with the General Netherlands Inspection Service for Field Seeds and Seed Potatoes (NAK) to have the seed tested for bacterial diseases in Emmeloord. ‘The pectobacterium wasabiae bacterium in particular is on the increase in the Norwegian seed potato crops, he confirms. He is also concerned about the withdrawal of Reglone from the market. Regarding to the admission of crop protection chemicals, Norway follows the EU regulations. Potato World 2020 • number 1 29 Pagina 28
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