Our Opinions

BBRO are keen to support growers in investigating innovative ideas or changes in practices. Not all ideas require or warrant full trials. 'Our Opinions' provides an overview of our thoughts and findings from across the growing region, and are not based on robust trial data. Occasionally the results reported here will be investigated further and full trials will be pursued.

Control the green bridge (June 2020)

Whilst the BBRO look for solutions to combat virus yellows, this article provides some useful advice for protecting future crops from the virus and other pests ...

Overwinter Cover Crop update (Aug 2020)

Previous BBRO work has clearly shown that cover crops ahead of sugar beet can have a positive impact on soils properties, helping to improve soil structure, soi...

Don’t forget the basics -understanding soil pH and sugar beet (June 2020)

Soil pH is a standard characteristic measured by a soil test, but what does the number mean and how does pH affect sugar beet growth? Here is a straightforward ...

Tillage options: Refining our view on tillage operations (May 2020)

In 2018/19, a collaboration between BBRO and the STAR project allowed us to assess the performance of sugar beet under different cultivation systems. This was t...

Reducing the risks of herbicide damage in crops (April 2020)

Getting sugar beet canopies established as quickly as possible, ahead of the summer solstice on 20th June is a key driver of yield.

The use of bio-stimulants on sugar beet

The term bio-stimulant covers anything that can be added to the plant or soil to stimulate natural processes to benefit the plant, beyond fertilisation or pesti...