My name is Tim Heysen from Kalangadoo, South Australia. I've been growing potatoes for about seventeen years with a previous background of grazing sheep and cattle.

We have gradually expanded our potato growing over the years where today we grow 150 hectares of French Fry potatoes for McCain, delivering in excess of 8,000 tonnes annually. We also run a contract seed cutting operation, cutting seed for local growers.

We started using Technico early generation seed four years ago, as part of our seed requirements for commercial French Fry production. The main criteria we are looking for in seed is:

• free of disease
• physiologically young seed
• early generation vigour

We have noted an improvement in yield and disease status in our crops using Technico's early generation seed. It now forms a substantial percentage of our annual seed procurements.

Furthermore, we have recently started growing Generation Two seed potatoes for Technico. Under this arrangement, we provide:

• high quality land & water
• all cultural operations - from ground preparation to harvest

Technico provides:

• plant health management programs
• crop scouting
• seed tuber grading and marketing
• certification

The seed produced under this system is used by ourselves and other McCain growers, as well as Frito Lay and fresh market growers in South Australia and interstate.

Technico has a sound seed potato business system. They have developed a system for producing early generation seed in bulk quantities, using modern technology and cultural practices, and supplying this to commercial growers at affordable prices.

Tim Heysen
Director
Heysen Partners
Kalangadoo SA 5278