Insecticide gets emergency authorisation for sugar beet

Sugar beet growers have another option for managing beet yellows this spring, following the emergency authorisation of InSyst (acetamiprid).

The approval permits one application of Certis’ insecticide to control peach potato aphids, which transmit virus yellows to sugar beet plants.

See also: Beet growers reveal the massive yield cost of virus yellows

Virus yellows has been blamed, along with poor growing conditions, for the disappointing yields seen last season, with reports of yields being 40-60% down for some growers.

Following the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments, beet growers have been left with just foliar sprays – with only one product, Teppeki (flonicamid), currently approved for use in sugar beet.

Mark Stevens, head of science at the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO), says the approval offers additional protection if needed to keep aphids and virus yellows in check.

The application was made jointly by the NFU and British Sugar with technical input from BBRO.

With the arrival of peach potato aphids expected in the third week of May, Prof Stevens says June will be the crucial month for aphids in sugar beet this year.

“It’s likely that both foliar sprays – Teppeki and InSyst – could be needed to see crops through to full canopy by the end of June,” he says.

Prof Stevens’ concern is not so much about the number of aphids expected but more about the number of virus sources this year.

“There are potentially a lot of reservoirs left over from the 2020-21 campaign. Groundkeepers, spoil heaps and energy beet still waiting to be moved are all sources with the potential to cause virus hot-spots.”

He also reminds growers to apply aphicides only once the threshold is met of one green wingless aphid per four plants up to the 12 true leaf stage.

The emergency approval states that crops can be sprayed only if this threshold is still met following an initial spray of Teppeki. The emergency approval expires on 31 July.