MILD WEATHER means sugar beet drilling is well ahead of normal on many lighter soils and crops are already emerging in some areas.

On light land in the east, around 80% had been drilled by the end of last week. With some crops emerging, progress is a week to ten days ahead of usual, says the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO).

“It is a remarkably early start,” says the BBRO”s Keith Jaggard. “To have some seedlings up by the end of March is exceptionally early.”

Nationally, about two-thirds of the sugar beet crop is already in the ground, compared to 18% at the same time last year, adds British Sugar”s Colin Walters.

Most progress has been made in the West Midlands. Drilling is much slower on heavier, wetter soils in parts of Norfolk, he says.

ut the mild start to the season has increased the potential threat from mildew and aphids, Dr Jaggard says. Timely nitrogen is advised to boost early growth.