Too white.


CULTIVATIONTIPS ADVISIE The right time to cool down


Too black. By Jos Hilkens


AdVisie ‘the mushroom growing consultants’, Herkenbosch hilkens@mushroomconsulting.nl


In most situations, the extent of mycelium growth on the casing soil surface determines the moment of cool down. However, there are exceptions, the main one being when the compost temperature is too high. The amount of mycelium a grower wants on the surface of the casing soil at the start of cool down depends on a variety of factors; growth rate and quality of the mycelium, amount of CAC applied, quality of the CAC material, speed of cool down, spraying or not, how the casing has been applied, the variety, season, length of the cropping cycle, type and capacity of the climate installation and the harvesting method. Recovery growth is typically between 24 and 48 hours. If you start too early, pinheads will usu- ally form deeper in the casing and steering the number of mushrooms will be more difficult. However, if you start too late, too much mycelium will cover the beds and the pinheads will usually develop in a more uneven pattern and there won’t be enough. If you start cool down too late, the air temperature, CO2 content and RH can be decreased faster, combined with slightly higher circulation. This will have an adverse effect on the spread and on moisture management of the casing soil. In the summer months, compost activity can also influence the moment of cool down. If the compost temperature increases rapidly and reaches 29 degrees Celsius, it’s best to gradually start cool down, regardless of how high the mycelium has grown on the casing soil surface. Maintaining higher circulation helps to control the compost temperature. In growing rooms that are very well sealed, introducing some air by slightly opening the inlets can also prevent a compost temperature spike of 2 to 3 degrees at the start of cool down.


Making the difference Praktisch advies bij: By Jos Hilkens


AdVisie ‘the mushroom growing consultants’, Herkenbosch hilkens@mushroomconsulting.nl


Photos: AdVisie


Klimaat -> betere luchtbeweging


Compostbedrijven -> quick scans


Many financial analyses reveal that there are a number of growers who can still make a diffe- rence and achieve positive revenues. That positive revenue can be expressed in one figure whereas normally a two figure revenue is required for healthy operational management. This revenue of upwards of 10% is more easily realised in the rest of the world than in the Netherlands. The key differences are companies that control more links in the supply chain (own compost, own sales), the demand for locally produced goods or a scarcity of mushrooms, less retail bundling by supermarkets or a wider diversity of alternative sales channels and when demand outstrips supply. Adding an extra link in the chain has proved successful for some growers in the Netherlands, but this is out of reach for the majority. Others have carved out success by focussing on chest- nut mushrooms, organic mushrooms or exotic varieties. However, most growers of white but- ton mushrooms will have to very critically re-examine production, the percentage of class I, picking costs, raw material costs and the price achieved by mushrooms to avoid ending the year in negative figures. In the case of manual picking farms in the Netherlands, the following rule of thumb applies; the increase in the results by 1 kg more of mushroom production per square metre equates to a 3% improvement in quality, a 2 kg/h increase in picking performance, a reduction in the hourly wage of the picker by 1 euro or a decrease in the compost price of 10 euros per ton of compost. To reduce wage costs, growers could consider replacing employment agency workers by employing their own pickers and possibly providing accommodation. Further optimisation can be achieved by good data analysis and monitoring the results per growing room, per week and per quarter. As consultants, we are happy to help you achieve this.


de champignonteeltadviseurs Jos Hilkens


+31(0)653 31 6204 hilkens@champignonadvies.nl


Economisch -> toekomstplannen


(advertisement) Consulting for: the mushroom growing consultants


Con Hermans +31(0)653 29 9396


hermans@champignonadvies.nl


Jos Hilkens +31(0)653 31 6204


hilkens@mushroomconsulting.nl


Picking -> analysis and presentation


Composting -> moisture content


Growing / climate -> better airfl ow


Con Hermans +31(0)653 29 9396


hermans@mushroomconsulting.nl


MUSHROOM BUSINESS 7


www.champignonadvies.nl


www.mushroomconsulting.nl


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