Organic options show promise

6 October 2001




Organic options show promise

The prospects for organic sugar beet look steadily brighter. David Millar catches up on British Sugars groundbreaking programme of organic trials

ORGANIC rotations are set fair for new levels of viability now that organic sugar beet is a moneyspinning option alongside milling cereals and potatoes.

A premium price, average yields that may be just 20% below those of conventional beet, clear agronomic information and strong market demand are expected to take the UK area of organic beet way over the 330ha being grown this year under contract to British Sugar.

Its an eventuality that BS is continuing to prepare for, with the second year of a series of agronomic trials in Lincolnshire and Norfolk. These are looking at establishment, plant populations, varieties and weed, pest and disease control under organic systems. The company is keen to fulfil demand from customers who want organic sugar but are concerned by the environmental implications of shipping most of the current supplies many thousands of miles.

The issue of "food miles" is becoming an important one for supermarkets and major corporate buyers of sugar and other commodities who dont like embarrassing criticisms of the use of fossil fuels to import foods that can be produced closer to home. There is also an issue of sugar quality, adds Simon Leeds, BS commercial manager. The colour of imported organic cane sugar is not acceptable for some food manufacturing uses.

While just a few thousands of tonnes are currently being imported, the market is expected to double in the coming year and will become much bigger once potential customers realise there is likely to be a consistent source of home-grown organic supplies. BS plans to be ready to help many more farmers than the 28 this year into organic beet as that market develops.

Premium

Mr Leeds believes many farmers in East Anglia, in particular, have been holding back entering the organic sector because they are beet producers and until now would have to accept lower yields and returns from their beet. Currently BS is able to offer a 45% basic premium plus another 10% in 2001 and 2002, bringing expected returns to about £45/t of adjusted beet. While organic potato growers can expect to lose around 35-40% of their usual yield, and organic carrot producers 40%, last years trials results from BS show only a 20% yield depression in the sugar beet crop from an average 50t/ha to 40t/ha using varieties straight from the current NIAB Recommended List.

This years trials on the Lincolnshire site at Blankney with the varieties Roberta and Latoya have performed very well since being drilled on 3 May and look set to return excellent results, according to Philip Ecclestone, project manager for BS. The accompanying farm crop of Roberta established well and has likewise escaped disease and pest attack. It is anticipated that some commercial crops will return 50-60t/ha of adjusted beet this year where growers have paid a lot of attention to detail.

Plant establishment and weed control are the main focus of trials funded by the BBRO, and being carried out by BS in conjunction with ADAS, which has expertise in a range of organic crops.

Since organically-grown seed isnt yet available, conventional seed, free of any chemical dressing but with the benefit of being primed with the Soil Association approved Germains Probio process is being used. British Sugar is also this year evaluating Soil Association approved seed treatments for fungicide and growth enhancing effects.

Late April and early May seem best for establishment but Mr Ecclestone sees no reason not to plant earlier if the conditions are right. The aim should be a minimum of 70,000 plants/ha but ideally 90,000-100,000 plants. Wet weather meant this year was not the best for establishment but organic beet did get away in many instances faster than conventional beet seed which may have been delayed slightly by its chemical loading. A standard seed spacing at 17.1cm with 50cm rows is being compared with high rate (14.2cm spacing) and low rate (20.1cm) drilling. It has not been necessary to thin out the high population stands this year.

Good establishment is one of the characteristics being sought in the variety trial although yield is the main target.

Seedling disease resistance is particularly important for establishment but Mr Ecclestone is satisfied that in a biologically active soil with a good predator base, growers need be less concerned about the risk of pest attack. Nor has the trial site been particularly bothered by disease this year. There is virtually no powdery mildew; however where this is a problem, sulphur can be used.

Vetch is being tried again as an undersown crop to confuse aphids that might otherwise identify a beet crop and fly in with accompanying virus yellows disease.

Weed burden

"Vetch may also stop some perennial weeds from taking over," suggests Mr Ecclestone.

Mr Ecclestone believes the eventual aim in weed control is to eliminate all hand weeding which can be a major cost for growers determined to get on top of weeds. Rotational planning will have a major role in this since mowing during clover leys or hoeing and tine weeding in other crops will be important for reducing the weed burden for beet. In the second year of replicated trials with mechanical weeders, it is already clear that thistles, docks and perennial weeds are more likely to come through while there are fewer annuals such as pale persicaria, knotgrass or fat hen. This year a Steketee "finger weeding" machine is being used with and without hand roguing.

While this years trial plots show evidence of poppies and speedwells, these are not as competitive as the taller weeds such as fat hen. A topper has been used in the farm crop to stop any weeds outstripping the crop.

Table 1 shows that weed control was achieved at Blankney with very reasonable costs. At Lode, which was a high weed pressure site, weed control was very costly but again achievable.

A number of machinery manufacturers are working on modifications to their hoes and tine weeders for use in organic beet.

The cost of such equipment is going to be higher than for conventional hoes, concedes Mr Ecclestone, but he points out that the organic grower will not also be carrying the cost of a sprayer.

British Sugar is also re-thinking how mechanical weeding is carried out. One possibility to be explored is a tramline configuration that will allow weeding across as well as down the rows.

While final details for 2002 are being finalised, anyone interested in growing organic sugar beet can contact Simon Leeds at British Sugar on 01733 422109 or e-mail: sleeds@britishsugar.co.uk


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