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Description
An insight into the world of sugar beet production in the UK, hosted by the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). This monthly production provides an overview of the industry with timely updates and future forecasts to support sugar beet growers. Hear from BBRO scientists and the field team, plus grower updates and industry comment.
63 Episodes
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On-farm conditions are unlikely to ever yield a 100% harvest of the crop, but could we be recovering more? Mark Winters (British Sugar) talks about harvester testing and how we might be able to recoup just a little bit more.
Understanding how to grow a sugar beet crop is only one aspect of being a good sugar beet grower. That's where the Sugar Industry Programme (SIP) comes in. Past participant, Eddie Liddle joins new recruit Henry Stanford and course organiser Sam Williamson from NFU Sugar to discuss why the SIP is so important to the industry.
We can all marvel at the plethora of insects in our soil but few of us would consider studying any one in any detail. However, this is essential if we are to understand their life cycles and impact to a crop, it is also a vital part of determining control. In this podcast we meet Martyn Cox who has picked up the mantle in regards to wireworms: a pest in potatoes, sugar beet, carrots and many more crops.
2025 has proved a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to sugar beet management. The positives being lower levels of virus and a crop that is resilient to drought, and then on the flip side we have increasing concerns re beet moth and foliar disease. Prof Mark Stevens explains the changes seen this year and thoughts for the remainder of the season.
We meet independent agronomist Penny Oakes in-field to discuss her role and that of the AICC. We also take a brief look at free-living nematode damage (docking disorder) in the Docking area.
Meet Stephen Swainston, new Managing Director of BBRO and hear of the increasing number of projects being undertaken in crop production by BBRO's applied scientist, Dr Georgina Barratt.
We all know how important water is in farming and the pressures upon us to limit use, limit run- off, or to the other extreme manage storm water and flooding. We meet with Rob Holland, Catchment Advisor with Anglia Water to discuss some of the issues they are faced with.
With a little bit of rain, we will soon see the 2025 crop emerging from the field, but what if your crop appears to be struggling? Dr Suzannah Harder is at the beginning of a 3 year trial investigating seedling diseases and hopes to be able to provide a more comprehensive answer than 'black leg'.
Disease pressures are probably not on growers radars at present, but in order to break the green bridge we need to ensure fields are clean prior to drilling, especially where cover crops have been in use. We listen in to a presentation from Georgina Barratt on cover crops and Pam Chambers (British Sugar) on weed control for 2025, recorded at our recent BeetTech25 events.
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.
With a high Virus Yellows forecast and aphids expected around the 10th April we look at mitigation strategies to help growers protect the crop in 2024.
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