Field Vegetable Review 2019 Contents 03 Foreword 04 Pests and diseases 22 Labour and automation 24 Resource management 30 Production systems 32 Post-harvest 34 Project round-ups All images are copyright AHDB, except the below, which are copyright to the following: Cover © Gary Naylor Photography; page 9 © Rosemary Collier; page 11 © Warwick Crop Centre; page 12 © ADAS; page 13 © Tim O’Neill; page 14 and 15 © University of Warwick; page 16 © FERA; page 17 © Steven Roberts; page 29 © Nicola Dunn Meet the team AHDB Horticulture contacts Dawn Teverson Knowledge Exchange Manager T: 024 7647 8979 E:
[email protected] Grace Choto Knowledge Exchange Manager T: 024 7647 8664 E:
[email protected] Bolette Palle Neve Crop Protection Scientist T: 024 7647 8884 E:
[email protected] Elected members Martin Evans (Chair), Freshgro Phil Langley, Sandfields Farms Ltd David Bond, J Bond & Son Carolyn Coxe, Pollybell Farms Ltd Christopher Ashby, Wessex Plants Euan Alexander, Kettle Produce William Iliffe, Southern England Farms Andrew Rutherford, KS Coles Stephen McGuffie, New Farm Produce Keith Mawer, Strawsons Rob Parker, G’s Fresh UK Jim Smith, Barfoots Tim Casey, J & V Casey & Son Foreword Welcome to the 2019 Field Vegetable Annual Review. Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon, looking at the latest technology, robotics and automation in horticulture. It has been another challenging year for many in terms The presentations are available online for those who of the weather. In particular, the heavy rainfall in June missed it. We also launched three Strategic SmartHort caused significant challenges for brassica growers in Centres in Cambridgeshire, Perthshire and Herefordshire.