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Stick to just-in-time delivery, says BBRO Warm weather during the latter half of September has prompted reminders that freshly lifted sugar beet should be... Indian summer prompts beet storage warning

Stick to just-in-time delivery, says BBRO

Warm weather during the latter half of September has prompted reminders that freshly lifted sugar beet should be delivered to factories as soon as possible.

“Temperatures are still relatively warm and therefore it is best to stick to a just-in-time delivery programme where possible – or short storage to reduce respiration sugar losses,” said an advisory bulletin from the British Beet Research Organisation.

Hard ground

The BBRO bulletin confirms that some harvesters have struggled with hard ground – despite high rainfall during much of the season. Growers and contractors should check for losses behind the harvester, it adds.

Growers should also check for surface root losses when conditions change or when moving between fields, soil types and varieties. And they should also ensure crops are crowned correctly and handled gently.

This will optimise sugar levels during harvest – and reduce the amount of root breakage and bruising. Growers should also monitor lifted crops daily after harvesting and ensure high-risk beet is delivered promptly.

Avoid  regrowth

Airflow can be improved by ensuring clamps are not too high and have low soil tare. Growers should also avoid pushing up beet into a big pile and refrain from levelling the top of the clamp.

Post-harvest, ploughing is recommended in fields with ConvisoSmart sugar beet varieties. This is to assist with stewardship – burying beet tops and small unharvested beet reduces the risk of re-growth.

The BBRO reports a mix of foliar diseases in-field. But it says there is nothing to date of any major concern. However, herbicide resistance in annual broad-leaved weeds is becoming more common.   

Working in conjunction with ADAS and British Sugar, the BBBO has produced a video update including information regarding seed collection for testing. The short film is available via the BBRO website.

Some areas have been affected by beet moth, but again the BBRO says this does not appear to be a widespread problem. In most cases, larvae are appearing in previously affected areas, says the BBRO bulletin.

Factory intakes opened later than usual after a challenging season delayed drilling. Bury St Edmunds and Wissington opened on 16 September, followed by Newark on 23 September and Cantley on 7 October.