Advice issued to help growers maximise yields and sugar content

The experts said that preserving sugar content during harvesting, cleaning and loading is a priority, especially whilst temperatures remain warm.

Growers should especially focus on optimum crowning and be conscious of excess remaining tops for ‘just-in-time’ loading and delivery. They were also warned to avoid high levels of root damage and bruising.

A spokesperson for BBRO said: “To minimise root breakage, avoid running the harvester too aggressively, assessing for root breakage and bruising at the clamp. Ensure a regular dialogue between harvester and haulier.

“If clamping is required, avoid too much soil or tops. Keep clamps low and wide to help with airflow, which is particularly important in warmer weather; do not push up or level the clamp. British Sugar are offering an on-farm harvester assessment; speak to your agriculture manager for more info.”

Foliar diseases management

As growers head into autumn, it is still important to monitor crops for foliar diseases, BBRO experts said.

“Powdery mildew has been most prevalent this year and should have been well managed with fungicides.

“Rust and Cercospora are now evident in most fields and need to be closely monitored in case we suddenly experience warm weather conducive to either disease.

“If disease symptoms begin to show, be prepared to spray an additional fungicide, especially on crops planned to be harvested from mid-November onwards, as this will protect the crop canopy and, therefore, yield,” BBRO said.

Sugar beet growers have also been advised to be mindful of the spray intervals for fungicides:

Caligula can now be sprayed onto crops. If doing so, these tops must not be fed to
livestock. Find more info on cercospora monitoring here.

On-farm hygiene

Growers have also been advised to clean up soil heaps, Maus lines and crop residues in a timely fashion. This is set to limit overwinter carryoverof pests and diseases.

BBRO said: “It is essential to return spoil to the field it came from and avoid storing harvested beet on fields which will be drilled with sugar beet next spring.”

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Beet moth

Beet moth damage is evident in many crops, but the severity of damage is very variable. Cooler weather and increased rainfall should suppress beet moth, but it is important to remain vigilant.

“Crops on lighter soils which have experienced prolonged wilting due to drought are most at risk. In situations where the damage has been so severe that the crown is damaged and leaf regrowth is not possible, it is recommended to lift early.

“Crops where damage is not quite as severe should be closely monitored, as the lack of canopy will make them vulnerable to frost damage, and early lifting is still recommended.

“Where beet moth damage is superficial and the canopy is not compromised, there is no need to adjust the lifting date,” a spokesperson for BBRO added.

The emergency authorisation of Coragen for beet moth expires on the 30th of September.

They concluded: “If you have used Coragen, it is vital you follow all restrictions on its use and make sure that any tops are not fed to livestock.

“Also, remind yourself of where any sugar beet crops using Cruiser SB-treated seed were grown in 2023 and 2024, as they are still subject to restrictions on flowering crops.

“Breaching these conditions is both illegal and violates your contract to supply your sugar beet to British Sugar.

“Fields grown with Cruiser SB in 2022 will no longer be subject to restrictions. If you have any concerns, please contact BBRO via info@bbro.co.uk or speak to your British Sugar agriculture manager.”

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