Sweetening the odds: getting more from your beet crop

As our sugar and fodder beet technical manager Jim Nutting explains, beet may be a familiar crop – but there are still plenty of opportunities to sharpen performance.

“Beet is a well-trodden path for many growers,” says Jim. “But small agronomic tweaks can make a real difference when it comes to output and profitability – especially in a season where there are a few key threats to keep an eye on.”

Virus yellows: staying one step ahead

At the top of the watchlist this year is virus yellows.

“The BBRO forecast has put the risk higher than last year in parts of the East and North,” Jim explains. “And without neonicotinoid seed treatments, crops are more exposed to aphid-borne infection.”

From our perspective, vigilance and timing are everything.

We’re advising growers to pay particular attention to crops following late-destroyed cover crops or those close to late-lifted beet fields – both of which can harbour overwintered aphids.

Crop growth stage is also crucial.

“Before the 12-leaf stage, beet is much more vulnerable,” says Jim. “So later-drilled crops that are still small when aphids arrive are naturally at greater risk.”

There are some practical tactics that can help.

“If you’re drilling into sacrificial rows of spring barley, that can buy a bit of time, as aphids tend to favour the barley,” he adds. “But it’s important to remove the barley at the 2–3 leaf stage so it doesn’t compete with the beet.”

When it comes to chemistry, a considered approach is key.

“I tend to avoid pyrethroids because of resistance issues,” Jim says. “There are effective non-pyrethroid options available, which allow us to vary modes of action. Some are also kinder to beneficial insects – so it’s important to match product choice to timing.”

Spray programmes should always be guided by thresholds, with lower thresholds in younger crops.

“By around 16 leaves, the crop is largely resistant to virus yellows,” he explains. “But depending on drilling date, that might not be until June.”

And application technique matters just as much as product choice.

“Aphicides often need their own timing and higher water volumes compared with herbicides,” Jim adds. “Coverage is critical – especially when the crop is small.”

Nutrition: setting the crop up to perform

Alongside pest management, nutrition plays a central role in helping beet crops reach their potential.

While macronutrients are generally well understood, we often see micronutrients and biostimulants overlooked.

“Beet is particularly prone to manganese deficiency,” says Jim. “Therefore we usually recommend early applications of manganese and magnesium. If boron hasn’t been applied in the base fertiliser, that’s typically needed too.”

Magnesium remains important throughout the season, supporting photosynthesis and overall plant health.

We’ve also seen consistent benefits from including biostimulants in programmes.

“Beet responds really well to biostimulants,” Jim explains. “They help get the crop moving early on and support it through periods of stress.”

His go-to?

“Zodiac is our benchmark. It combines seaweed extract and amino acids to help reduce stress and maintain growth.”

Stress can come from multiple angles – cold snaps, herbicide applications or dry conditions – so building resilience into the programme is key.

“I’ll often suggest three applications through the spring, followed by another with the first fungicide in late July, when crops can come under pressure again,” he adds.

Disease: watching the changing picture

On the disease front, mildew and rust remain familiar challenges – but there’s a newer threat beginning to edge into focus.

“Cercospora is something we’re watching closely,” says Jim. “It’s been a major issue in Europe, and there are concerns we now have strains adapting to UK conditions, along with potential fungicide resistance.”

The disease thrives in warm, humid conditions – think heavy dews, fog or prolonged leaf wetness.

We’re encouraging growers to stay alert and make use of tools such as BBRO’s Cercospora Watch alerts to track risk locally.

“The good news is that some fungicides used for mildew and rust also have activity on Cercospora,” Jim explains. “But product choice and resistance management are absolutely key.”

Making the margins work

In a tighter margin year, it’s these incremental gains – across pest control, nutrition and disease management – that can make all the difference.

At ProCam, our role is to bring that all together into a practical, tailored approach that works on farm.

Ready to fine-tune your beet strategy?

Every crop, every field and every season is different – and the best results come from a plan that’s built around your system.

Speak to your local ProCam agronomist to review your beet agronomy, manage risk this season and make every hectare work harder.