IN BRIEF

30 March 2001

IN BRIEF

&#8226 WHEN oilseed rape starts to flower this spring growers can get a regional check on sclerotinia sclerotia development at www.diseasespotter.co.uk, says Aventis. The site is free with data posted from five ADAS centres, including information on other osr diseases and bean diseases such as chocolate spot and downy mildew.

&#8226 PROVISIONAL British Sugar yield data puts total UK sugar production at 1.325m tonnes from last years crop, 16% over UK quota of 1.144m tonnes. The average sugar yield of 9.08t/ha maintains the UKs position amongst Europes leading producers, says BSs Karl Carter.

&#8226 MARKETABLE yield increases of 29% are claimed for potato foliar feed P222 by Tunbridge Wells-based distributor Epizym. The mix of marine algae, microbial extracts, N, P, K and trace elements should be applied at tuber initiation on low tuber number varieties but after tuber initiation on prolific tubering varieties such as Maris Piper, says the company. Compatible with fungicides, application rate is 2.5 litres/ha costing £12.50/ha.

&#8226 MORE bugs in your grain store than you want? Then contact CSL, which is offering free advice in return for a sample of the pests involved. Growers with substantial pest numbers should contact Ken Wildey at CSL (01904-462682 e-mail: k.wildey@csl.gov.uk). Total anonymity is guaranteed.

&#8226 MAJOR potato packer Branston Potatoes has completed a £1.5m investment in new production facilities at its sites in Lincs and Somerset. An intake size-grader has doubled capacity to 40t/hr in Lincs and a punnet line for salad potatoes has been added at the Somerset unit.

&#8226 ENERGY crop power stations needing to relocate to secure planning permission can retain their favourable NFFO contracts, the Department of Trade and Industry has ruled. That should safeguard the future of the 6MW Victory Mill energy crop project developed by Border Biofuels. &#42