Article taken from the Horticulture Week
Most of us know that insect nets are an efficient way of keeping unwanted pests at bay. What many of us may not realise is that a fruit farm in Suffolk has become the world’s first grower to put these insect nets around the sides of its orchards.
These large nets are cleverly preventing codling moths from flying into the orchards, therefore eliminating the need for late-season moth sprays. This innovation is one of the many ways in which Boxford (Suffolk) Farms (BSF) is pioneering the fresh-produce industry.
The Stour Valley-based farm, founded by Devora Peake MBE in 1938, has doubled its production during the past decade thanks to its investment in new technologies and the latest growing techniques.
With the help of Dutch adviser Fruit Consult, the farm – which currently produces around 2,750 tonnes of apples a year – has been able to adopt the best pruning techniques, root pruning and crop-nutrition programmes. This has helped the grower to improve the health of its trees and eliminated the need to use plant hormones to control vigour.
The family-run business has also become the UK’s largest grower of Bi-baum, twin-stem trees. Since 2012, the farm has planted 40,000 of these trees, which produce heavier crops thanks to the effects of a twin bud graft on the physiology of the tree.
The new orchards are fed through an Autoagronom intelligent drip irrigation control system that increases fruit yields and reduces the farm’s water fertiliser use by an impressive 40 per cent.
Much of this investment has been made possible with the help of Government funding through its producer organisation, Plantsman PO. All of these innovations have brought tangible benefits to the business, which is confidently driving top-fruit production into the future.
Award sponsor
Agrovista
One of the leading suppliers of advice and products to professional growers. With the most comprehensive product range and technical knowledge in the UK, Agrovista can ensure that the quality service it provides to its customers is unrivalled in the marketplace.
Most of us know that insect nets are an efficient way of keeping unwanted pests at bay. What many of us may not realise is that a fruit farm in Suffolk has become the world’s first grower to put these insect nets around the sides of its orchards.
These large nets are cleverly preventing codling moths from flying into the orchards, therefore eliminating the need for late-season moth sprays. This innovation is one of the many ways in which Boxford (Suffolk) Farms (BSF) is pioneering the fresh-produce industry.
The Stour Valley-based farm, founded by Devora Peake MBE in 1938, has doubled its production during the past decade thanks to its investment in new technologies and the latest growing techniques.
With the help of Dutch adviser Fruit Consult, the farm – which currently produces around 2,750 tonnes of apples a year – has been able to adopt the best pruning techniques, root pruning and crop-nutrition programmes. This has helped the grower to improve the health of its trees and eliminated the need to use plant hormones to control vigour.
The family-run business has also become the UK’s largest grower of Bi-baum, twin-stem trees. Since 2012, the farm has planted 40,000 of these trees, which produce heavier crops thanks to the effects of a twin bud graft on the physiology of the tree.
The new orchards are fed through an Autoagronom intelligent drip irrigation control system that increases fruit yields and reduces the farm’s water fertiliser use by an impressive 40 per cent.
Much of this investment has been made possible with the help of Government funding through its producer organisation, Plantsman PO. All of these innovations have brought tangible benefits to the business, which is confidently driving top-fruit production into the future.
Award sponsor
Agrovista
One of the leading suppliers of advice and products to professional growers. With the most comprehensive product range and technical knowledge in the UK, Agrovista can ensure that the quality service it provides to its customers is unrivalled in the marketplace.