Sugar beet damage - skylarks?

[ewald]

As above really - I have quite a few acres of beet where the cotyledons have disappeared, leaving a tiny plant trying to grow back. It has been suggested that it might be skylark grazing - the areas seem too defined for frost damage, and no evidence of shrivelled leaves.
Has anyone any experience of this, how do I keep them off as the beet (hopefully) regrows?
Redrilling has been suggested, but it is so dry I think this is a non starter

 

[jondear]

Can't imagine that it's them .Are there significant numbers?

 

[Gav]

Hares have a healthy appetite for sugar beet and will do a lot of damage in a short space of time. I used to work on an estate with a large population of them and the amount they grazed was hard to believe at times.

 

[DRC]

As above , Hares will go down the rows nibbling the plants off.

 

[Boysground]

Skylark is the best sound in the countryside Just sit in the field and listen to them.

I would be surprised if they are causing that much damage

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[robbie]

Skylarks can do a lot of damage to cotyledon sized beet. I've been told and have read on here by @DrWazzock that they're after the moisture on/in the cotyledon, which makes sense as damage is always worse on a dry time. It had been suggested that putting pans of water down for them can stop or prevent the damage.

 

[DrWazzock]

Skylarks can do a lot of damage to cotyledon sized beet. I've been told and have read on here by @DrWazzock that they're after the moisture on/in the cotyledon, which makes sense as damage is always worse on a dry time. It had been suggested that putting pans of water down for them can stop or prevent the damage.

We put water trays out for the Skylarks as recommended by our fieldsman. Baking trays filled with water. I didn’t really believe it would do much good but maybe it does. Haven’t really hung around to watch what happens. Certainly lots of skylarks about. My beet is fairly battered, missing cotyledons, but fairly randomly across the field. Some not germinated. Spotted a couple of deer grazing it as well. Not an easy spring for the poor old beet and herbicide timing is nearly impossible, but we keep trying.

 

[Flat 10]

I think it will be pigeons or partridges. Suffer badly here every year and most beet survive. They don’t eat the true leaves. Sets them back no doubt and I imagine loses yield as takes them at least a week to make leaf back up. Slightly less damage than usual here as neighbour bless him has some backward osr.

 

[goodevans]

Skylark is the best sound in the countryside Just sit in the field and listen to them.

I would be surprised if they are causing that much damage

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Cuckoo equal first

 

[robbie]

Cuckoo equal first

Or the sound of Swift's screeching high overhead.

 

[Rookie]

Locally 15 acres has been ploughed up and redrilled due to suspected partridge damage.
Coteyledons all pulled out, so germinated ok. No bird activity during daylight. All at night.

 

[DrWazzock]

There are many more game birds about due to Covid curtailing shooting activities during the season. They are real nuisance on slow emerging cereals near the woods. Luckily my beet is further away from them. As dry as it is, there would be little point in redrilling here, though I have a unit of Evalotta left if anybody needs any, free for collection. Can’t use it next year.

 

[ewald]

Thanks for the replies- it could well be hares, there are a lot around at the moment. Difficult to know how many skylarks there are - you tend to hear rather than see them
Will just have to wait and hope it grows away - too dry to redrill and no amount of rain in the forecast

 

[Flat 10]

Thanks for the replies- it could well be hares, there are a lot around at the moment. Difficult to know how many skylarks there are - you tend to hear rather than see them
Will just have to wait and hope it grows away - too dry to redrill and no amount of rain in the forecast

it will. i still bet its pigeons.

 

[robbie]

it will. i still bet its pigeons.

Smart ass!!!! I've just walked some of mine and sure enough there was a dozen pigeons out in the middle and guess what when I got to where they were..... Cotyledons had gone!!!!!

 

[DrWazzock]

Closer investigation here would suggest it’s a bigger bird than skylark, judging by the footprints. I’d say partridge here. Haven’t seen pigeons on ours. Seed and plant dug right out. Probably thirsty work in the dust and they are glad I put some water out for the skylarks.