Potato Training
Contact: Hannah Parish
NIAB offers BASIS accredited potato training courses in potato agronomy, variety identification, crop walking, pests and diseases or bespoke courses to meet specific needs.
NIAB Comprehensive Potato Course
This well-established course is BASIS-accredited and offers a comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the potato crop. It is carried out in conjunction with the National Association of Seed Potato Merchants (NASPM) and supported by the VTSC growers association. The course is open to all, but would be of great interest to new members of the potato trade, agrochemical specialists, consultants, agronomists and processors.
PART I - THE POTATO, 5 days.
The syllabus covers all aspects of the potato crop:- breeding, agronomy, seed production, good husbandry practices, storage techniques, up-to-date use of chemical control methods, pests and diseases affecting the growing crop, utilisation, processing qualities and market outlets. Teaching is accomplished through presentations and lectures from technical experts and national specialists. A course manual with full notes is provided. The course attracts BASIS points.
PART II - RECOGNISING POTATO DISEASES & VARIETIES 2 ½ days
A field based course using the NIAB training field with over 700 plots, showing a full range of varieties, diseases and disorders. The course attracts BASIS points.
- Variety identification by foliage characters
- Recognition of foliage diseases, stem and tuber diseases
- Seed classification, field techniques and standards
For further information, including course dates and fees contact Hannah Parish
For further information on NIAB trials and evaluation services for potatoes please click here
For information on NIAB course dates and fees click here