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Know How / Sugar beet / Crop management

Growing sugar beet to limit the threat from pests, diseases and weeds and produce top yields needs expertise and timely use of the right inputs.

Find practical guidance and topical tips on maintaining canopy health, fine-tuning fertilisers and understanding variation, as well as achieving more of the potential yield.

Case studies

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PEST MANAGEMENT

Norfolk estate assesses risks in move to no-insecticides

An estate near the north Norfolk coast is farming with no insecticides across nearly two-thirds of its land, and is hoping for flexibility to qualify for payments under new environmental…

SUGAR BEET

Video: Sugar beet growers set for April rush to get crop drilled

Sugar beet growers are set to have a busy Easter as better forecast weather will see them trying to catch up on beet drilling, with only 5% of the national…

SUGAR BEET

The rare moth putting sugar beet yields at risk this autumn

There are reports of an uncommon moth larvae infecting sugar beet crops across the east of England, raising fears of significant yield penalties as harvest nears. Experts from the British…

SUGAR BEET

Video: Sugar beet drilling success with near-perfect weather

Sugar beet drilling is racing to a close in the current dry weather with higher beet prices and the availability of a key virus yellows seed treatment prompting more optimism…

COVER CROPS

4 growers' methods of effective cover crop destruction

Cover crops are becoming a mainstream option for growers, but their effective removal is critical to get good spring crop establishment. Farmers Weekly speaks to four growers from across the…

SUGAR BEET

Video: Good early sugar beet yield as harvesting speeds up

Sugar beet harvesting is kicking off with promising yields for one Suffolk farmer amid more optimism among growers due to low disease levels and a price rise in the pipeline.…

Practical advice

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Aphid pressure mounts in sugar beet crops - what you can do

Aphids are now flying and sugar beet growers are being urged to check their crops, as some have already reached the spray threshold for these vectors of virus yellows in…

SUGAR BEET

3 factors growers can influence to maximise sugar beet yields

After five years of monitoring more than 150 fields, the Beet Yield Challenge (BYC) has identified three important factors which growers can target to narrow the 10-25% gap between actual…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Updated advice on tackling cercospora in sugar beet

Burying infected leaves, identifying disease early and timely fungicide treatments are all steps growers can make to keep on top of the aggressive sugar beet disease cercospora. Cercospora is the…

SUGAR BEET

Advice on clamping sugar beet for optimal harvest storage

This year’s sugar beet harvest campaign is now under way, and a shortage of HGV drivers is expected to limit crop collection times, which may force some beet growers to…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Are growers paying too much for sugar beet weed control?

Trials this year show that some sugar beet growers might be spending too much on herbicides, with some commonly used and effective broad-leaved weed control programmes showing a huge range…

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

How beet growers will benefit from cercospora warning system

A new early warning system for cercospora is being used by the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) following last season’s outbreak, which exacerbated the impact of virus yellows on sugar…

Insights

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NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

How technology lets crops turn pollution into fertiliser

A new technology that captures air pollution and uses sunlight to convert it into nitrate on the leaf surface of a crop has been developed by Lincoln-based Crop Intellect. Called…

SUGAR BEET

What the neonics authorisation means for sugar beet growers

Sugar beet seed can be treated with the neonicotinoid dressing Cruiser SB (thiamethoxam) this spring to protect crops against aphid-spread virus yellows under an emergency authorisation. The temporary derogation comes as…

SUGAR BEET

Garlic-based nematicide performs well in BBRO beet trials

A garlic-based nematicide has proved its worth in independent sugar beet trials for a second successive season, despite the low risk of Docking disorder in 2022. Docking disorder is caused…

SUGAR BEET

Will the beet moth reappear in crops this summer?

English sugar beet growers are counting the cost of the beet moth, which was seen in large numbers for the first time last summer. The moth (Scrobipalpa ocellatella) devastated some…

SUGAR BEET

Herbicide-tolerant sugar beet draws growers amid high costs

The greater flexibility on offer from herbicide-tolerant sugar beet is attracting more growers to the combined system, but the right stewardship and management remains essential. Originally launched ahead of the…

NUTRITION AND FERTILISER

Can silicon crop sprays benefit growers this season?

Despite silicon being the world’s second most abundant element, making up 25% of the earth's crust, crops can still benefit from its application, which has a vital role in plant…

PEST MANAGEMENT

Tips on managing nematodes without Vydate in sugar beet

A new granular nematicide containing 45% garlic extract has been authorised for use in sugar beet following promising results against free-living nematodes – the main cause of Docking disorder. Nemguard…

WEED MANAGEMENT

Why sugar beet variety choice has a role in weed control

Research shows that crop canopy – driven by good establishment, variety choice and adequate nutrition – should play a more integral role in weed management strategies in sugar beet. Weeds…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in NI and Scotland

Nitrate vulnerable zones exist to protect the environment against potential pollution from fertiliser and manure applications. Each devolved nation has its own rules – so what do arable farmers need…

PEST MANAGEMENT

4 slug pellet myths busted for better control

The withdrawal of metaldehyde means growers will soon only have ferric phosphate slug pellets to count on when managing this devastating pest. However, there are a number of myths on…

NVZS

The rules for arable farming in an NVZ in England

Nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) account for about 55% of land in England, making it more likely than not that a farming enterprise is within a designated NVZ. So with NVZs…

CROP MANAGEMENT

Analysis: How Brexit affects farmers' access to pesticides

Adequate resources and a more pragmatic, science-based approach by UK regulators will be crucial to growers gaining better access to crop-protection tools after Brexit. Over recent years, plenty of criticism…

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