At the British Potato Council's Seed Industry Conference last week, Rob Clayton - transfer manager at the BPC - suggested an increased knowledge of end-user requirements would improve the uniformity of potato ware crops and premiums for seed producers.

Referring to the results of last year's BPC seed customer satisfaction survey, Clayton said: 'The seed supply chain is more than up to the challenge of meeting their requirements, particularly the growing requirement for supplying seed in exact size bands.

'The survey results point to a seed customer who knows what he wants and is increasingly willing to pay a premium for seed of the right specification to meet his needs. An increasing emergence of premium grade bands, eg 35-40mm or 40-45mm depending on the customer, should be viewed by the seed industry as an opportunity to add value.' With increased competition from around the world, industry members must continue to focus on the end market, Clayton stressed. 'The BPC seed programme is learning more about the importance of crucial factors like tuber initiation date and how this influences stem numbers. The seed industry has tried various techniques over the years to increase seed numbers like foliar phosphate, but the management of tuber initiation in the previous crop has consistently given better results than anything else tried.

'This will help maintain Great Britain's reputation as a innovative, quality potato seed producer.'