BeetCast

Whilst most of us want to forget the 2020 beet crop, four growers did well in the face of adversity and have just been announced as the factory winners of the Beet Yield Challenge. Hear how they achieved it and who of the four (Will Baker – Newark, Will Sands – Cantley, Jonathan Quail – Wissington and the Hitchcock family – Bury) has been awarded Champion Beet Grower of 2020.

We join some of the BBRO Team at BeetField21 and listen to discussions ranging from irrigation, drought resistance, variety choice, virus and aphid control, plus an update on the Beet Yield Challenge.

Join us at Morley Farms with farm manager David Jones and BBRO’s Head of Operations Stephen Aldis; checking on our under-sown barley work and discussing weed control.

Drilling complete at BBRO Demo Farms and preparation underway for the summer events. We meet site host, grower Bill Legge at Wallington Hall to discuss how he selects his varieties and what he is hoping to gain from having the BBRO team 'on-farm'.

The 2022 RL is now available (https://bbro.co.uk/sugar-beet-varieties/recommended-list/). Mike May and Dr Vicky Foster reflect on the release and the use of the first Beet mild yellowing virus tolerant variety.

The results from the Rothamsted virus forecasting model have now been released, these indicate a reduced aphid population and therefore significantly lower risk of virus in 2021. Listen to how BBRO utilise models to support growers and how this can improve decision making.