Archive Article: 2001/10/26
Vital to contain threat of rising rhizo disease
Rhizomania disease can devastate sugar beet yields. So, despite this years jump in new cases, it is imperative that the containment policy continues.
The 69 new cases are no surprise since late drilling and wet weather favour the disease. But they are no reason to end the successful policy of containment that has kept the disease to just 1% of the beet area.
That is in stark contrast to countries with no such policy, which are riddled with the disease.
DEFRA may want to curtail monitoring costs. But it is a small price to pay to preserve the efficiency of British beet production. Everything should be done to ensure government continues supporting the efforts of growers and the industry to contain this damaging disease.