Choosing the right beet for you

As signs of spring have finally begun to appear, it will soon be time to plant fodder and sugar beet once again. Around 9,000ha of beet is expected to be planted this year, back slightly on 2019.

Excellent yields due to a good growing season last year meant that until recently, surplus beet supplies struggled to find a market. However, prolonged challenging weather over the past month has helped tighten supplies. Beet is the highest-yielding energy crop we can grow in terms of yield/ha. It remains a popular feed source for livestock farmers and provides a good break crop for tillage farmers.

However the crop does require a lot of work, with most beet now being washed before traded. Furthermore, at a cost of around €2,000/ha to produce (Teagasc crop costs and returns 2020), it is vital to get your agronomy right in order to maximise returns. In many cases this means doing the basics right such as proper seedbed establishment, correct nutrition, weed control and monitoring of pests and diseases. However, before any seed is put in the ground, growers must first choose the right variety.

Key variety considerations

Enermax and Magnum continue to dominate the market due to their consistent, strong performance. However, there are other varieties which could suit some growers, depending on their market.

We caught up with Goldcrop’s Dave Barry, who explained that variety choice is largely dependent on end use and is guided by a number of variety characteristics. These are dry matter yield, fresh-weight yield, cleanliness and colour of the roots and leaves and quality of the leaves.

For example, farmers who are growing beet for their own use and are able to wash the crop tend to select beet varieties with high dry matter (DM) yields. These tend to be sugar beet varieties which are often deep rooted.

Farmers who are growing beet for their own use but cannot wash the crop tend to select medium-DM varieties which sit high out of the ground and are harvested relatively clean.

Farmers who grow to sell generally have washing facilities, so cleanliness of the beet is less of an issue. Unless the customer specifies otherwise, these growers generally tend to aim for varieties with a high freshweight and medium to high DM. Colour of the root becomes important as most customers prefer white varieties. The quality of leaves on the crop is also important where an armer or pull-type harvester is being used by the grower.

Table 1 outlines the key varieties available through Goldcrop. Goldcrop distribute the high DM fodder beet varieties Enermax and Magnum which remain popular in the market.

DLF varieties

We caught up with DLF Seeds business manager John Enright who outlined some of the key varieties available through the company. See the full list of varieties in Table 2.

Like many other crops, beet growers are contending with an ever-decreasing pool of chemistry to produce the crop. This year marks the last season in which the herbicide Betanal maxxPro can be used. The product contains desmedipham, which failed to be reregistered for European markets. Reports suggest there are ample supplies of the product in store for this season, however. Other products such as Trilogy and Farmco Trio also contain the active.

This is also the last season in which the herbicide Pyramin DF (containing chloridazon) can be used. Pyramin DF was effective against charlock in particular. In addition to this, the loss of Gaucho and Cruiser seed dressing in 2019 leaves beet crops exposed to pests such as leatherjackets. Careful field selection has never been so important.

New generation of beet varieties

After years of the development, a new generation of herbicide-tolerant sugar beet varieties is close to becoming a commercial option for Irish growers. The varieties are being bred by KWS using conventional breeding techniques and have a natural tolerance to a specific ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitor herbicides.

The beet varieties are branded under Conviso Smart. These new herbicide-tolerant varieties will allow growers to tackle problem weeds with new chemistry while also facilitating the growing of beet in weed beet-infested fields. The variety is in trials this year but is not commercially available in Ireland yet.

Growers will be able to visit these trials later in the season. More on this later in the year.

Beet is a high-energy, low-protein and low-dry-matter feed (20% DM). Energy levels are high at 1.12 UFL per kilo of dry matter, putting it on a par with early spring grass in terms of energy levels. However, the protein is low at around 9% so high levels of supplementary protein will be required if being fed to lactating dairy cows. Lower levels of supplementary protein will be required if being fed to finishing animals. Beet can be grazed in-situ or harvested and fed out at a feed face. Gradual inclusion in the diet is necessary, up to a maximum of 30% of the diet.

-Aidan Brennan