AF Root Crops

Industry has applied for renewal of the approval of the fungicide, mancozeb in Great Britain.

With the news that sugar beet growers will not have the option of Cruiser SB (thiamethoxam) this season, BBRO outlines what’s available in terms of aphid control.

An Emergency Authorisation for the use of Vydate 10G (oxamyl) for the control of free living nematodes in the 2021 sugar beet crop has been approved by HSE.

Rothamsted Research has confirmed that the virus yellows prediction for the 2021 sugar beet crop remains very low, with first flights of aphids likely to be six weeks later than last year.

All four emergency applications for the use of Vydate (oxamyl) in 2021 potato, carrot, parsnip, garlic and onion crops have been rejected by the Health and Safety Executive.

It is looking increasingly likely that the virus level forecast for the end of February 2021 will be below the threshold for triggering the Cruiser SB (thiamethoxam) derogation in sugar beet, says BBRO.

My list of wishes in my last column didn’t include the biggest flood in the Waveney Valley since 1968, but it happened nonetheless and on Christmas Eve a nearby measuring station recorded its highest ever water level up by nearly 0.5 metres.

Early aphid migration, spring drought and cercospora infection at levels never seen before led to the perfect storm for sugar beet crops in 2020.

Winter seems to be progressing in the normal way, with December being suitably wet and the last field destined for winter wheat will now be planted with spring wheat.