“This is the first year of my farming career in which I am considering the future of sugar beet on our farm,” he said. Must have information for the 2019 season. “The combination of 2019/20 weather conditions and a high aphid burden in spring has harmed yield and sugar content, particularly in the Wissington factory area.”. We will also be touching on the current harvest results and how the lifting of poor crops first has impacted on overall sugars across most factories. An insight into the world of sugar beet production in the UK, hosted by the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). Sugar beet is seeing a resurgence, however, sugar markets remain tough. In these unprecedented times of virus both on and off the field, the small team at BBRO are packing a punch by investigating many different research streams. These root vegetables, which are related to both standard beetroot and Swiss chard, are typically cultivated for sugar production -- in fact, sugar beet sugar makes up 20 percent of the world’s sugar. He has lifted around 120/130ha of his 200ha of the crop and was averaging around 60/65t/ha where he would normally expect around 80t/ha. BBRO has a team of scientists and field trials operators that work hard to conduct robust research projects and deliver technical information through a wide range of knowledge exchange activities e.g. PUBLISHED: 17:09 29 October 2020 | UPDATED: 17:53 29 October 2020, John Taylor - pictured holding a healthy sugar beet plant and one with virus yellows - says for the first time in his farming career he is considering the future of beet on his farm Picture: ANDY TAYLOR. To get in touch with us please see the contact details for our team and we will be happy to hear from you. The ground should be fairly level and well-drained, especially where irrigation is practiced. Click the link in the orange box above for details. “We were hoping to do some this week but the weather had gone against us.”. This makes the country the fifth largest producer of sugar … “British sugar beet growers are experiencing unprecedented levels of aphids this year and significant levels of virus yellows disease are now evident across many beet growing areas. Bill Baker, who farms at Drinkstone, near Bury St Edmunds said he had lifted around 75ha of beet over the past three weeks and the results were well below average, mainly due to low sugar contents of between 16% and 17%. Regular updates throughout the growing season. Peter Watson, agriculture director at British Sugar, said all four of the company’s factories were now successfully up and running – but admitted there were challenges this year. Recent rains have only added to farmers’ woes as they attempt to harvest their normally resilient beet crops. Working alongside this, the Stakeholder Committee provides guidance on future industry priorities and oversees BBRO’s funded programme of research and knowledge exchange activities. Sown in the spring to grow through the summer, the harvested crop travels on average 28 miles to one of our four advanced manufacturing plants in Bury St Edmunds, Cantley, Newark and Wissington. Stephen Aldis also joins us to talk about the importance of on-farm hygiene in combatting virus and disease, whilst Prof mark Stevens gives us an update on the prevalence of cercospora. We share the research results with sugar beet growers through our publications and at our events. The BBRO Executive Board provides guidance on the strategic direction of the organisation and its members are responsible for setting the levy. Hear from BBRO scientists and the field team, plus grower updates and industry comment. Short podcasts crammed with bitesize info, BBRO rises to the challenge of virus yellows. It follows a 25% drop in his wheat yields this year, and a 15% fall in spring barley. “Harvesting in very wet conditions does damage the soil structure for the following crops and also delays planting them too.”. Sugar beet is sourced from local farms in the East of England and it is cultivated, on average, 28 miles from the UK’s four British Sugar plc factories UK-produced sugar travels an average distance of 168 miles from beet to bulk delivery point at the sites of UK customers. “We recognise the challenges virus yellows brings to our growers, and continue to work with our partners across the industry to tackle the disease both in the immediate future and the longer term through our virus yellows pathway.”. Luckily he had been able to prepare his seed beds and drill at the right times, narrowly avoiding the bad weather, he said. “I fear I’m going to be disappointed,” he said. This is your starting point for addressing challenges such as the rising pest and disease threat, keeping weeds in check, exploring precision farming and protecting the environment. Please keep an eye on the events page and look out for BBRO emails to inform you of what’s coming up. “We expect this year’s crop to yield below the five-year average, as a result of a combination of poor weather conditions affecting crop establishment and the impact of unprecedented numbers of aphids, which can carry virus yellows disease. To ensure BBRO’s research programme remains aligned with the industry needs we welcome feedback or comments on any of our current activities or suggestions for new work that will help to deliver our strategic objectives. A combination of virus yellows infections and poor growing conditions in the spring have devastated sugar beet yields for some growers, particularly in the Wissington factory region. Ben Larter, of Framlingham, described his beet crop year as “a bit of disaster”. “We have seen a bit of virus yellows but the crop seems to have grown through it,” he said. “The yields aren’t what we need to make money out of it and because the factories were late opening as soon as the harvest started it poured with rain – we had about 90mm of rain the first weekend,” he said. Sugar beet yields have been increased by 25% over the past ten years 2 driven by joint industry targeted initiatives, and are continuing to increase at over 2% annually – higher than for most arable crops 3. He thanked growers, harvesting contractors and hauliers for their support during the “challenging” lifting conditions on farm. We are, as always, at your service and ‘by your side’ with your sugar beet crop. David Hoyles, who…, Benchmarking against other farmers is a great way to identify cost savings and it was the starting point for Cornish farmer Ashley Jones's journey to train as an agronomist. “It’s been a particularly difficult year for sugar beet with a dry spring virus yellows and now a very wet autumn,” he said. How sugar is made Portman House, 120 Princes StreetIpswich, IP1 1RS, Man dies after being struck by lorry at Harwich port, Felixstowe mayor ‘disappointed’ as town’s Christmas tree is dubbed one of worst in Britain, Suffolk to be in Tier 2 in local lockdown system. Described as ground-breaking…, How to measure organic carbon in soils and, even more importantly, accurately measure how it changes over time, are major challenges in the potential development of new income streams for…. Sugar beet awaiting collection by the roadside after being harvested Picture: SARAH CHAMBERS John Taylor, who farms at Woodbridge, said he had harvested about half of his beet crop … Stephen Rash, of Wortham, near Diss, said he had been hoping to start harvest but that had been delayed because of the weather. “Areas of virus yellows have also contributed to the poorer yields and if we cannot secure a reversal of the neonicotinoid ban and/or a hard winter to kill the aphids then prospects for future years look increasingly bleak too. Nearly every field had virus yellows, he added, and this had noticeably increased since last year – the first without neonicotinoids. This monthly production provides an overview of the industry with timely updates and future forecasts to support sugar beet growers. How do Tier 1 areas like Cornwall compare to Suffolk? Hard copies should be received by growers by the 1st April. He had heard reports locally of farmers bringing in 60t/ha so the average on his first field of 73t/ha was “respectable”. He estimated about a fifth of his crop was affected by virus. After a very poor cereal harvest, it was a relief, but certainly wouldn’t rebalance the finances, he said. National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Sugar vice chair Simon Smith said the NFU was continuing to make the case to the UK government of the need to support sugar beet growers, both this year and in the future. In 2018/2019, the United Kingdom produced 1,133 kilotons of sugar from sugar beets. “I think we could be 15/20% down on our yields,” he said. An influx of disease-laden aphids have hit beet crop yields and quality this year - with some crops just edging above the 16% sugar content required and some roots clinging to more dirt when harvested meaning more costs.