Beet growers warned to be on guard for sugar beet mildew

Weather conditions are ideal for mildew and rust to threaten sugar beet yields, warns Dow AgroSciences.

Sugar beet growers across the UK are being warned that 2004 could see high levels of mildew infection in all the main production areas. It is not a threat to be taken lightly as infections can rob 15-20% of yield.

Fortress from Dow AgroSciences will provide lasting control of mildew, so removing growers worry during the hectic cereal harvest period.

"Growers have two options," explains Stuart Jackson, Agronomist with DowAgroSciences. "Either a single treatment of 0.3 litre/ha, or a sequence of two doses of 0.2 litre/ha. The split dose is best suited when the threat of the disease is likely to be high over a long period, or where fields are programmed to be harvested later in the campaign."

Fortress, which contains quinoxyfen, should be applied at the first sign of the disease. When applied as a sequence the second treatment can be made any time up to 28 days before harvest.

"Fortress' strength is its long-lasting protection. An added benefit, given the rapidly changing weather patterns this year is that it is rainfast within an hour of application," says Mr Jackson.

Where rust is also likely to be a problem, Fortress can be tank-mixed with a suitable fungicide such as cyproconazole.