Beet selection slimmer

3 March 2000

Beet selection slimmer

WITH seven varieties dropped and just two added the new Recommended List for sugar beet offers a much slimmer selection for planting next year.

Baron, from Delitzsch, and Jessica, bred by KWS and marketed by English Sugar Beet Seed, are the only newcomers.

"Both are high yielding with reasonably good sugar contents and growers incomes," says NIABs Simon Kerr.

Decisions on Boxer from Novartis and Murray from Lion Seeds were deferred. "They have both shown improving performance over the years which we need to confirm."

The list now comprises 17 varieties. Familiar names dropped are Camilla, Madison, Madrid, Nicola, Oberon, Zulu and rhizo-resistant Ballerina.