BBRO BeetCast

With the sugar beet harvest due to start in a few weeks, we remind growers to keep an eye on canopies as they recover from drought. Checking for disease and nutrient deficiencies in order to keep the canopy as healthy as possible to maximise yield potential.

It has been a very busy few weeks in the BBRO laboratory checking through numerous yellow water pan samples assessing aphid numbers and now testing for levels of virus. Prof Mark Stevens explains the results so far and expected impact.

Mike May, Chairman of the RL Board joins Dr Simon Bowen to discuss the RL and how assessing your current sugar beet crop can help in determining the best variety choices for your soil type and management programme in future.

With the crop underway we join Martin Stuffens, Farm Manager of Park Farm, Thorney to discuss the BBRO trial site that he is hosting and how his crops are faring so far this season.

We are all on high alert following the Rothamsted Research Aphid forecast. BBRO are exploring a number of options to support the sugar beet industry and encourage growers to join with them in finding new ways to manage this pest.

The Rothamsted Forecast released on the 1st March triggered the use of Cruiser SB treated seed for the 2022 sugar beet crop. The forecast predicts that without control measures almost 70% of the crop will be infected by Virus yellows. Prof Mark Stevens and Dr Simon Bowen discuss the options for growers.

Following a successful year of trials the BBRO are pleased to release some exciting news ahead of the BeetTech22 events relating to Virus yellows and Free living nematodes. Great way to start the new season.

We revisit Holkham Farming to meet Dominic Swan of Catalyst Farming and Farm Manager James Beamish to discuss what data they are collecting and the impact this information could have on crop management.

There has been much talk of the importance of cover crops, but planning their use requires a bit of forethought, whilst their impact requires patience. This is part one of a soil health special with James Beamish, Holkham Farming looking at soil health management and their cover crop programme.

With the on-going haulage issues, many growers are having to provide short-term clamps for their beet. Dr Simon Bowen explains when and why we need to clamp and how best to avoid creating hot spots that could increase sugar losses.