This month we are talking all about Potato Cyst Nematode, an important pest in most areas of the country where potatoes are grown.

It is during the autumn and winter months that we look to soil sample fields and prepare machinery, so on this episode we meet with three experts to learn more about sampling, controls, machinery calibration and the nematicide stewardship programme.

Our first guest is independent agronomist, Simon Alexander. Simon takes us through the 6 best practice steps to the Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP)from compulsory qualifications through the post application checks.

Our next speaker, Ian Foreman, joins from NSTS, the National Sprayer Testing Scheme. Ian expands on the importance of machinery calibration and best ways to avoid problems in season. You can download a check sheet here.

Finally, we are joined by David Nelson, Agronomy Director at Branston Ltd. Branston are a potato grower with sites in Lincoln, Scotland and the South West. David joins us to discuss cultural controls to PCN, with a particular focus on variety choice.

The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection Agriculture and Vegetable courses both cover potato agronomy. If you are interested in advancing your potato knowledge further then we offer the Advanced potatoes course which also contributes towards the BASIS Diploma in Agronomy. Don’t forget we also have a module, Developing an IPM approach to PCN, available on the BASIS Classroom, created in collaboration with Bayer.

To claim you 1CPD point for listening please wait for the code at the end of the episode.

We currently have a winter offer on our BASIS Classroom digital courses (until 21st December 2022) where you can get 10% off our Principles of Sustainable Land Management course (worth 8CPD points) and the FACTS Nitrogen Use Efficiency Refresher.