Written by cpm
Download PDF The threat from virus yellows is a very real one this season after a mild winter and spring. CPM finds out what the virus forecast is and the limited strategies available to reduce its potential effect on yields. The exceptionally mild winter significantly increased the risk of infection. By Lucy de la Pasture and Rob Jones The potential threat posed by viruses is very much in mind at the moment and for sugar beet growers, virus yellows has once more become a grave concern. After more than two decades of relatively minor risk when the metaphorical shield afforded by neonicotinoid seed treatments meant there was little need to consider other means of protection, the crop is again at threat from a problem once regarded as ‘neutralised’. “Neonicotinoid seed treatments provided a solution to virus yellows. They enabled targeted use of a highly effective pesticide,” says Prof Mark Stevens, lead scientist for the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO). “In hindsight reliance on one class of insecticides rather than a greater integrated approach, has led to a renewed threat from virus yellows.” The threat this season is very real, he stresses. Monitoring shows that were it not for neonicotinoid seed…
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