New genetics offer greater flexibility New genetics, advanced seed and herbicide technologies are making sugar beet an increasingly beneficial addition to arable rotations. “It’s a superb break crop,” says KWS UK AgroService sugar beet manager Martin Brown. “Pest, disease and weed problems that may have built up in cereal-based... Read more
Good progress is being made in the quest to grow potatoes sustainably – benefiting farm businesses and the environment, say researchers. The Transformative Reduced Input Potatoes (TRIP) project brings together researchers from Dyson Farming and Bangor University with a host of other partners – including commercial companies. Funded by... Read more
• Confusion over sugar beet supplies • Growers can purchase seed direct • British Sugar will release more soon Sugar beet breeders say they have plenty of seed available for the coming season – despite British Sugar describing some varieties as “currently sold out”. Confusion over seed availability follows... Read more
Six new varieties added to 2025 list Growers looking to order sugar beet for drilling in 2025 have six new varieties to consider on the British Beet Research Organisation recommended list. New varieties are Chyma, Josephina and Smart Uma – all from KWS UK; Magpie from SesVanderHave; and ST... Read more
Fodder beet could offer livestock farmers a cost-effective energy source this year – but growing it will require careful management following an especially wet winter. “Fodder beet is a crop that requires investment and attention to detail,” says Ryhs Owen, of agronomy specialists ProCam. “However, done right, it can... Read more
Sugar beet growers should target a yield of at least 80t/ha to ensure the crop pulls its weight during the 2024/25 season, say experts. Prospects for sugar beet this season and recommendations for herbicide programmes were discussed by agronomists and other arable advisors during a webinar hosted by crop... Read more
Potato growers can manage the increasing incidence of blight resistance with effective fungicide mixing strategies, say experts. Speaking at the Potato Science Live events this spring, Syngenta technical manager Andy Cunningham said a mandipropamid mixing strategy was helping growers in Denmark to control resistant blight. Incidents of blight strain... Read more
Early applications of foliar nutrition could be key to helping sugar beet crops establish following the wet winter. With slumped soils causing havoc for seedbed creation, early foliar nutrition help crops grow past their most vulnerable 12-leaf stage for aphid-borne virus transmission, says ProCam agronomist Ian Jackson. “It’s important that sugar beet achieves full... Read more
Sugar beet growers face another high-pressure year for virus yellows with aphids flying into new crops as they emerge. Aphids will be flying two to three weeks earlier in England compared to the historical average, according to the Rothamsted Insect Survey aphid forecast for 2024, which was issued on... Read more
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