Germains launches new sugar beet seed calculator

The new online tool is designed specifically for farmers who are seeking to optimise crop yields and profitability.  

With a simple and intuitive interface, the calculator enables farmers to compare the yield and financial returns that Xbeet enrich 300 or the next-generation formulation, Xbeet enrich 400, and offers over other seed treatments. 

Germains’ lead scientist, Jordan Long, explained: “With more seed options now available in the UK, making the best choice in terms of value is more complicated. 

“While yield is key, seed rate and sugar beet prices also matter. This new calculator helps growers and advisers estimate potential yields and returns using their own data and UK trial results from Germains. The trials used in the calculator are all conducted under UK conditions by ORETO-accredited organisations.” 

New technology tested by farmers 

Will Hitchcock, who’s responsible for a significant beet acreage across Suffolk, described the calculator as “very good”. “Just being able to see in black and white, the advantage of Xbeet enrich 300 and 400 is exactly what a grower needs to make an informed decision.  

“In this current climate you need those marginal gains to ensure your competitive advantage.” 

Xbeet enrich 400 is the latest advancement in Germains’ enrich series. Alongside the primer, nutrients and biostimulants found in Xbeet enrich 300, it contains beneficial microbes to help enhance germination, emergence, and early growth—especially when conditions are challenging. 

Mr Long continued: “We are thrilled to introduce this innovative tool to the sugar beet community. 

“Our sugar beet seed calculator is designed to empower farmers to make data-driven decisions about their crop management and seed choices, ultimately leading to increased profitability and sustainability.” 

Mr Hitchcock added: “I know there is currently a huge amount of uncertainty about the price of beet, but as a grower there is a lot we can do to de-risk the crop.  

“By knowing what seed treatments are offering, it helps to reassure us that we’re doing everything we can to maximise yield. I can see the calculator being useful for British Sugar account managers and agronomists too.” 

Exploring potential of new technologies and techniques 

Hitchcock Farms at Ringshall is a family-run business that drills over 2,000ac and lifts over 3,000ac of sugar beet each year.  The home farm has 500ac of the crop and the rotation centres around beet being grown one year in four.  

“Apart from haulage, we’ve got machinery dedicated to beet production which helps us effectively manage such a large acreage with timeliness. It’s everything, especially in a tricky season like this one. 

“We’ve gone against the grain with some of the kit. One of the drills, the Kuhn Kosma, is the only one in the country specialising in sugar beet, and we’ve built our own chaser to get crops off the fields in poor conditions,” Mr Hitchcock explained. 

The Kuhn Kosma was originally designed for maize, however, across Europe farmers are using it successfully to drill beet.  Its advantage lies in its weight, as it can maintain coulter pressure, which improves the consistency of drilling depth on heavier land or after cover crops where seedbeds aren’t ideal.   

Mr Hitchcock said that at his home farm drilling went well overall this year, though he admitted that there was more moisture loss than he would have liked on some of the heavier land. 

“That led to some two-stage germination. However, we did get rain when needed, and these crops have now caught up and are now looking good. On the kinder land, there was a good plant stand from the word go.”  

The majority of Mr Hitchcock’s 1915 Harrietta and Katjana crops were treated with Xbeet enrich 300, but where potential was lacking on the light land, he dropped back to the enrich 200 option. 

“I’m fairly confident about this year’s crop. We’re irrigating where we can—including some of the heavier land at the home farm—thanks to a legacy of irrigation equipment from grass leys for dairy cows in the 70s and 80s.”  

Despite the challenges facing sugar beet today, he is optimistic about its future.  

“With virus yellows and increasing adverse weather, the yield growth we’ve seen in recent years could well slow.  But that just makes it even more important to explore the potential of new technologies and techniques.   

“We’re currently experimenting with cover crops on heavier land with an eye on SFI and Countryside Stewardship schemes.  Picking up those extra bits of funding where we can just softens the blows as and when they come.  

“I was amazed by the yield benefit of the enrich 400. It’s quite exciting going forwards, and it’s an example of the innovations that could help us continue to drive yield growth, at least for the time being. 

“In the long term, I’d relish yield mapping.  Currently the dirt-tear factor means nobody has developed the software, but it would add a level of precision to our decision-making,” Mr Hitchcock concluded. 

Access the calculator here.

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