The final plots of Sugar Beet were harvested last week by Elsoms at G.R. Wards farm at Caythorpe, Lincolnshire. The final part of an extensive 3 year trials series has seen the sequential harvesting of varieties from leading breeders SESVanderHave and Strube-Dieckmann.
"With 50% of the crop now lifted post November, it is vital that as growers and breeders we fully understand the impact this has on varietal performance. We know that sugar content declines as the tops re-grow, so we’re looking for varieties which re-grow more slowly to preserve sugar content. We have already identified varieties which exhibit this trait, providing growers with greater harvesting flexibility." Comments Ian Munnery – Elsoms’ Sugar Beet Manager.
Richard Robinson – Elsoms’ Technical Manager advises that it is important to maintain a reasonable amount of top going into the winter to protect the roots from frost. "Our experience shows that keeping the crop disease free will help in achieving this. In fact even with the severe frosts seen this year we saw little root damage in the field. This contrasts markedly with those crops lifted prematurely and placed in clamps. It is worth "
Elsoms Sugar Beet team will be available at the British Sugar open days in May and June to discuss our findings and where Bullfinch, Levi and Bobcat fit in your cropping plans for 2010. All our varieties come with resistance to Rhizomania as standard – essential given the widespread incidence of the disease.
