Beet, what am I doing wrong?

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
There is a reason there are no beet factory's near you

Yes, Dr Beeching axed the rural rail network, which carried most of Scotlands beet to the Cupar sugar factory.

From Hansard:
SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION: CUPAR FACTORY CLOSURE
HL Deb 23 July 1969 vol 304 cc973-5973
§2.41 p.m.

§LORD KILMANY
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§[The Question was as follows:

§To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate has been made of the loss in production of sugar beet in Scotland that will follow the closing down of the beet sugar factory at Cupar.]

§THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Lord Hughes)
My Lords, on this year's acreage the loss will be approximately 170, 000 tons. There will, however, be no overall loss in production throughout Great Britain.

§LORD KILMANY
My Lords, arising out of that reply, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that this is not only a matter of loss of employment for some 200 persons in Cupar, important though that is, but also a loss throughout the South and East of Scotland of some 13, 000 acres of sugar beet, and that this in turn affects more than 6, 000 farmers, many of whom have invested in expensive machinery in order to harvest the crop?
 

robbie

Member
BASIS
If it's dry at sowing like you say then a pre em is a total waste of money.

We ditched them years ago and normally get away with two post em sprays of metamitron for its residue action +des/phenmedipham +debut+oil and may be ethofumisate depending on week spectrum.
 

Breckland Boy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Breckland
If it's dry at sowing like you say then a pre em is a total waste of money.

We ditched them years ago and normally get away with two post em sprays of metamitron for its residue action +des/phenmedipham +debut+oil and may be ethofumisate depending on week spectrum.
I wish I could get away with just two post-em sprays. Normally 4 for me.
I agree that it's rare a pre-em does any good
Growing a cover crop to protect from wind impacts what you can use post-em.
Not ploughing and leaving a bit of stubble on top is a good defence from damaging wind and allows robust post-em sprays from the start.
Ultimately, it's not you who limits yield, it's the weather.
 
Location
Cheshire
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By my reckoning if East Anglia get 90t/ha your 65t/ha is on the money.
 

Colin

Member
Location
Perthshire
That's the year not the growing season. I would imagine April to November would favour the north. Our problem has been lack of warmth and sun during bulking maybe.
 

Iben

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fife
If it's just total hours of light, then yes, further north would do better. If it take into account radiation intensity (which I think it does) then the south will be well ahead.

We had a cool summer compared to the south who was generally 5-8C warmer each day, and we certainly don't see the 30+C that the south had for a few weeks.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
If it's just total hours of light, then yes, further north would do better. If it take into account radiation intensity (which I think it does) then the south will be well ahead.

We had a cool summer compared to the south who was generally 5-8C warmer each day, and we certainly don't see the 30+C that the south had for a few weeks.
I don’t think 30 c does beet any favours.....
 
Location
Cheshire
That's the year not the growing season. I would imagine April to November would favour the north. Our problem has been lack of warmth and sun during bulking maybe.

Yes, daylight hours will be better in the summer but the growing season will be shorter and definitely less total irradiance even in the summer.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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