BBRO BeetCast

Growing sugar beet without the protection of CruiserSB could be challenging. Whilst cold weather provides an advantage, it is not a guaranteed solution, therefore BBRO will be working closely with growers on the finer details, ensuring that together we can sustain the crop in 2025.

2024 has passed relatively easily for most beet growers, with a relatively average yield being harvested across most of the growing region. But what is in store for 2025 and how will BBRO be supporting you to ensure your decisions deliver all important yield?

In agriculture there are many periods of 'watch and wait' which gives the impression that farming is a laid back industry, but nothing could be further than the truth. The speed of change hitting the industry at present is exhausting. As one hill is climbed, another appears on the horizon, many currently feel they are looking at a mountain range.

Whilst we at BBRO can do little to level the landscape, we hope that we provide enough information to make growing sugar beet easier to navigate. This month we encourage you not only to engage more with us but to also look at the plethora of events and discussion groups available to you, that might just help provide that all important guide rope over the coming months.

With a special day approaching many growers will be wondering what they might find under the tree. Well BBRO's wish list, or to be more accurate Alistair's wish list does not entail large shiny vehicles, he's looking for something slightly smaller and with the help of Roger Barker from Living Optics he puts a small package with big potential to the test.

Autumn is a time for reflection but also for change, and in sugar beet things are certainly changing with the introduction of a new way to secure your seed. Nick Morris (British Sugar) and Arthur Marshall (NFU Sugar) explain the changes and the advantages these could bring to growers.

Chairman of the Sugar Beet RL Board Mr Mike May joins us this month to explain some of the processes of the RL variety selection and how these data can be used by growers.

With much interest in cover crops this autumn we speak to both Dr Georgina Barratt and Dr Alistair Wright about their thoughts and what to expect from the BBRO research currently taking place.

We also meet with industry stalwart, Tricia Cullimore, who has just retired from NIAB following 52 years of trials and the sugar beet Recommended List.

If your beet leaves have become 'holey' it could be the Silver Y moth at play, so please watch your crop carefully throughout July for this pest and for any signs of foliar disease such as Cercospora Leaf Spot.

'Tis the season of events! The BBRO team have been out and about meeting growers and discussing some of the in-field issues and hopes for this season's crop.

With so many tillage choices, how do you ensure you have made the right choice for your soil, the conditions and your crop? BBRO are investigating these implications at Holkham Farming with interesting results.