Important Conference for Field Event - 12th August 2008

Date : 12th August 2008



Location : Barnham Broom Hotel,

Honingham Road, Barnham Broom,

Norwich.

NR9 4DD



Thinking about your future in potato production? With soaring input prices, many of us are examining our growing costs to identify where any savings can be made, or indeed, questioning whether to continue growing potatoes.



Growing almost 1,000 ha of potatoes and a key supplier to the processing industry, we are all too aware of the impact of these cost increases on both ends of the supply chain.



Developing sustainable partnerships with both growers and customers is a key priority for Higgins Agriculture. With this in mind, we are hosting a meeting �Profiting from Partnership in Potatoes�. The meeting on Tuesday 12th August takes place at Barnham Broom Hotel, Norwich. Registration and breakfast starts at 8.30 am with presentations commencing at 9.00 am.



Speakers will address their specialist areas to give their views on how we can build partnerships and develop more effective working practices to retain profitable businesses in challenging times.



After the presentations there will be a visit to the near by combined Higgins and Syngenta trials site. There will be an opportunity to look at and discuss potential new lines from our own Higgins potato breeding programme and other new processing material from the UK and Europe.



The Syngenta demonstration plots will look at different seed treatments and herbicide inputs.



The field plots will continue our theme of Profiting from Partnership by looking at ways to optimise yield and inputs.



As someone we believe can make a contribution to the future potato processing supply chain, we wish to invite you to join us on August 12th, when representatives from our customers, growers and supply base will address an invited audience on the challenges ahead.



The event programme is attached. To reserve your place, please use the attached faxback confirmation.



I very much hope you will join us and take the opportunity to hear our speakers presenting their authoritative and challenging views on the route to success.



The Day's Schedule



8.30am : Registration, bacon rolls and coffee



9.00am : Welcome and Introduction



Graeme Byers/Stephen Uttridge - Higgins Agriculture



- A Growing Company�s Role in the Supply Chain



9.20am : Grower Speaker



- Managing a Growing Business in an Inflationary Environment



9.40am : Neil Dickens, H J Heinz, European Purchasing Manager



- Growing a Successful Potato Processing Business



10.10 am : Bruce McKenzie, Syngenta Crop Protection, Specialist Crops Leader



- Sustainable Crop Protection in Processing Potatoes



10.30am : Presentation Summary and Discussion



11.00am : Trials Site Visit



12.50pm : Coach returns to Barnham Broom



13.00pm : Light lunch and depart



Looking forward to your attendance,



Graeme Byers

Technical Director