“Whether other potato harvester manufacturers can support customers as well as Standen – I’d very much doubt it.”Ian Smith of WC Green, Oxfordshire
At Standen Engineering Ltd, we were delighted to read the recentFarm Machinery Journal article highlighting WC Green’s potato harvesting operation and their 11 year experience with the same Standen T2 potato harvester. Feedback from a business with more than 100 years of farming history at Akeman Street Farm is particularly meaningful, and it reinforces everything we aim to deliver through our machinery and support.
Operating nearly 1,200 hectares with a dedicated potato rotation, WC Green places a strong emphasis on efficiency and crop care. As Ian Smith explains, “Typical daily output in reasonable conditions would be about 3.2ha, although we can do as much as 6ha in a day if everything runs in our favour.” This level of performance reflects the T2’s ability to work productively while remaining adaptable to changing field and soil conditions.
Protecting crop quality is central to the farm’s operation, especially when producing both maincrop and seed potatoes. Ian notes, “Our primary focus is harvesting and handling tubers in the most efficient manner, minimising crop damage. The T2 enables us to achieve this goal.” This outcome is exactly what the T2 was designed for—precise control, gentle handling, and the flexibility to fine-tune the machine to suit the crop and conditions.
The article also highlights the importance of after-sales support, particularly for growers operating in more isolated regions. “The other big benefit we get from Standen is the field service back-up and technical support,” says Ian. “I can speak to somebody at the factory, and they are very helpful. This is essential as we are quite isolated.” Knowing that growers can rely directly on our factory team during critical harvest periods is something we take great pride in.
As Ian adds, “If we have a mechanical issue during harvest, I generally fix it myself, but if I can’t, I call on the expertise of the factory… Whether other potato harvester manufacturers can support customers as well as Standen – I’d very much doubt it.”
Hearing this level of confidence in both our machines and our people is hugely rewarding. Edward Gilbert, Standen’s Sales Director commented “Feedback like this from a business with WC Green’s experience is extremely rewarding for everyone at Standen. The T2 and its successor, the T2XS was designed to deliver reliable performance, gentle crop handling, and the flexibility to adapt to varying conditions, so it’s very pleasing to see those principles reflected so clearly in the article. Just as importantly, strong factory back-up and direct technical support are central to how we work with customers. Harvest is a critical time, and knowing we can help keep machines running when it matters most is something we take great pride in.”
We thank WC Green andFarm Machinery Journalfor sharing this experience and look forward to continuing to support them and other growers with reliable, adaptable machinery. When Ian is ready, we will be delighted to offer him continued support in the purchase of his future T2XS harvester.
