2019 Beet area
- Thread starter Tipperted
- Start date
- Location
- West Suffolk
Yes last year, no probs
Mag.
5kg bittersaltz and 2 or 3 ltrs/ha Mn?
- Location
- West Suffolk
TBH I can’t remember? But something like that, although I use powdered manganese so probably 5kg/Ha of that.
alomy75
Member
Here’s what my ‘theory’ is based on...every 9m I have two ‘ruts’ of perfect beet! Unfortunately the diagonal cultivation wheelings don’t show up as the crop is catching up. Luckily it’s just this one field (photo from last week). Going to roll crossways next year I reckon. Beet price rumours are a marginal improvement on the 1 year price but obviously as per the letter they can’t agree on the three year price so we won’t get any announcement anytime soon.
alomy75
Member
It’s a joint decision by NFU and BS and because they can’t agree there’s nothing to release [emoji17]
Interested to know soil type in your patches ,heavy? And what you have done to field to prepare it
Honest john
Member
- Location
- Fenland
I have applied potassium nitrate at 5kg/ha. After a low K sap test.
It’s about the same cost as Mn at 5 L/Ha I think.
Honest john
Member
- Location
- Fenland
Yes
You are the only person I’ve heard who’s talking about a marginal improvement. Let’s hope you are right
- Location
- the brecks norfolk
Same here.
I really can't see bs offering anything any better than this year. This year's price sounds artificially better than it is because they come up with the squit about abolishing top tare.
The last paragraph of the letter, where it said about growers considering all options didn't sound very encouraging to me.
alomy75
Member
Plough in autumn; toptilth in autumn; one pass with a germinator in spring then drill. Works a treat on our mineral soils but that particularly soil has a high organic content; skirty Fen. Just wasn’t consolidated enough
alomy75
Member
Just what I’ve heard; you know what rumours are like though
- Location
- Lincolnshire
The bit on which I hand applied some nitrate is now a very healthy green. The rest of the beet on the sand is as yellow as a fluorescent jacket.
I did apply 120kg N by the full emergence stage. It's fine on the heavy land where it wasn't washed through by the 4" of rain in June but totally totally inadequate on the sand which leaches like a sieve. The tramlines and field edges are OK because the nitrate is concentrated in the tramlines when it swills and there is less competition at gearings and gaps and edges.
No useful advice on this matter from the levy takers of course. You have to do your own trials and make your own mind up, but the rigid 120 kg N by full emergence advice is a joke IMO. A one size fits all joke. If these levy takers want to earn their money they are going to have to get a bit more savvy about tailoring nitrate requirement to conditions as they unfold during the season, rather applying it in one dollop and closing the gate on it.
I did apply 120kg N by the full emergence stage. It's fine on the heavy land where it wasn't washed through by the 4" of rain in June but totally totally inadequate on the sand which leaches like a sieve. The tramlines and field edges are OK because the nitrate is concentrated in the tramlines when it swills and there is less competition at gearings and gaps and edges.
No useful advice on this matter from the levy takers of course. You have to do your own trials and make your own mind up, but the rigid 120 kg N by full emergence advice is a joke IMO. A one size fits all joke. If these levy takers want to earn their money they are going to have to get a bit more savvy about tailoring nitrate requirement to conditions as they unfold during the season, rather applying it in one dollop and closing the gate on it.
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
But they cannot advise more than 120 kg/ha in a calendar year, as that is the NVZ maximum amount for sugar beet. Afraid it is a case of just having to do what is sensible. And not make any record of it or references on public forums.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
If it's less than £20 per tonne then I'm afraid they are going to end up closing down their own UK operation. A shame but that will be the end of it. I am not going to use my savings to grow it.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Did BBRO have no input into the NVZ limits? As with cereals there ought to be adjustment factors for situations. Putting on 120 kg here by full emergence is a bit stupid IMO. It should be applied in stages up to 1st August on sand.
As it is I have evidently lost most of it down the shuck because I have stuck rigidly to the NVZ rules leaving my crop now starving.
I have played by rules and lost out as usual.
Hindsight
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
NVZ rules were put together 10 years ago or more. Presume BBRO as a key stakeholder would have been invited to comment. I am a little confused by your comments. You say it is a bit stupid in your opinion to apply all 120kg/ha N by full emergence, and rather apply in stage to August 1st which sounds very sensible. But then say that is exactly what you did. And now regret doing so. The NVZ rules did not say it had to be applied by full emergence. (Not sure what you mean by full emergence?) That seems to have been your decision. Think I would be out tomorrow with a spinner flicking on 125 kg/ha of Nitram while we have a damp soil and bit of rain to wash it in. I would do it quietly and not come on TFF to tell the world.
Best wishes,