sugarbeet seed 2013

Choosing your sugar beet seed for 2013

CRUISER SB 速 and FORCE ST 速 are Registered Trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

CRUISER SB (MAPP 15012) contains thiamethoxam. FORCE ST (MAPP 11752) contains tefluthrin.

CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed is seed treated with CRUISER SB and FORCE ST. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning phrases and symbols refer to www.syngenta-crop.co.uk Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd. Registered in England No. 849037. Syngenta Seeds Ltd. Registered in England No. 345486.CPC4, Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE Tel: 01223 883400 Email: customer.services@syngenta.com Web: www.syngenta-crop.co.uk

Syngenta: working with you to produce higher sugar beet yields The British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) 4x4 initiative was launched this year, aimed at helping growers increase yields by 4% on average over each of the next four years. With this aim in mind, Syngenta has produced this booklet to help UK sugar beet growers build on the record-breaking yields of the last campaign.

Our expertise in sugar beet covers seed varieties, seed treatments and crop protection chemicals – both here in the UK and in many countries around the world.

You can find the latest information about our varieties and products at www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/sugarbeet We will be having a series of farm walks hosted by growers throughout the sugar beet growing region during June and July. Here we will have plots of our varieties, including

our newest variety SY MUSE, and experts on hand to discuss your crop, concerns and opportunities.

There will be a further chance to see plots of our varieties and catch up on the latest news at CEREALS 2012 on June 13th and 14th at Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire.

Contact Syngenta, CPC4 Capital Park, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5XE Phone: 01223 883400 E-mail: customer.services@syngenta.com

Syngenta will also be attending all four BBRO summer open days and we look forward to welcoming you on our stand: Tuesday 22nd May

Wednesday 30th May

Newark factory area: Patrick Dean, East Mere House, Mere Road, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN4 2JB

Cantley factory area: Beckhithe Farms, Reedham,

Thursday 24th May Wissington factory area: Top Farm, Holbeach Hurn, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 8LW

2

Norwich, Norfolk NR13 3HW

Thursday 31st May Bury St Edmunds factory area: Broom’s Barn, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6NP

Key factors in sugar beet selection When planning your 2013 crop, here is a quick reminder of the important factors to consider: High yields

Seed treatment

Choose varieties from among the highest yielding on the Recommended List. The BBRO Recommended List ranks all varieties in terms of sugar yield and adjusted tonnes, and a variety from the top quartile of the List gives you the best opportunity of a profitable crop.

Choose the most effective seed treatment for your crop. CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed gives extended protection both above and below ground for the best start to your crop.

Seed quantity and quality Order enough seed to guarantee an established plant population in excess of 90,000 plants/ha and aim for more than 100,000 plants/ha.

Commercial seed quality matters – so that the results seen in trials are properly reflected in your fields.

All seed of our varieties is grown, processed and pelleted to the highest standards.

Disease resistance Rhizomania resistance is now standard. However, if there is also a known, or suspected, pest issue such as Beet Cyst Nematode, test for this and then choose an appropriate tolerant variety.

Early drilling Early drilling can bring distinct yield benefits. All Syngenta varieties are suitable for this.

Maintaining a green canopy Always apply at least one spray of a triazole fungicide. This will provide a 5% yield benefit, even in the absence of disease. Maintaining a green canopy will enable the beet to build root and sugars. SPYRALE will control all the primary foliar diseases of sugar beet.

Lifting date An early-maturing variety, such as AIMANTA, will allow profitable early lifting of beet to make way for winter wheat.

Root shape The smoother improved Syngenta root shape makes lifting easier and reduces tares and transport costs.

3

NEW FOR 2013

Aim high, choose MUSE – a first choice variety for every farm Very high sugar yield and adjusted tonnes Consistent performance Suitable for early drilling with excellent establishment Excellent seed quality from determinate flowering Syngenta root shape for easier harvesting and low tare

SY MUSE is a new Rhizomania-resistant variety that delivers on all the key drivers for a profitable sugar beet crop: very high yields, consistent performance, good sugar content, good establishment and low bolting from both early and normal sowing dates.

In the last three years of official trials, SY MUSE has recorded an adjusted yield of over 100 tonnes/ha in every year of trial, with a three year mean of 113.6 tonnes/ha, putting it right near the top of the new List.

SY MUSE is a great all-rounder: suitable for all soil types and all drilling and harvest dates. The variety benefits from a large top and the Syngenta low‑tare root shape, providing reduced tares and enhanced ease and quality of harvesting.

4

When to use

When to drill

When to lift

All soil types

Early, middle or late

Early, middle or late

Aim high, choose MUSE

SY MUSE vs Control varieties 2009–2011 Relative sugar yield (%) 104

2009

103

2010 2011

102 101 100 99 98 97

SY MUSE

Rosalinda KWS

Aimanta

Valeska

Bullfinch

Bobcat

Source: BBRO trials

SY MUSE is set to become a key part of the UK national crop for 2013.

We anticipate a high demand for seed.

SY MUSE vs Control varieties 2009-2011 Bolters/ha from normal sowings based on 85,000 plants/ha 30 25

58.6% fewer bolters

20 15 10 5 0

SY MUSE

Rosalinda KWS

Aimanta

Valeska

Bullfinch

Bobcat

Source: BBRO trials

Select CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed for the best possible start to your crop in 2013.

5

VARIETY SELECTION

Profitable beet before profitable wheat The highest yielding Fully Recommended variety Very high sugar yield with rising trend Benefits from early maturity – providing high yields from the beginning of the Campaign Suitable for early drilling with excellent establishment Large tops, vigorous growth Syngenta root shape for easier harvesting and low tare AIMANTA is the top-performing Fully Recommended variety on the 2013 List. Its early maturity also gives it a positive relative yield benefit for those wishing to lift in the first two months of the Campaign.

This makes AIMANTA a particularly good choice if you are planning to lift early, either on heavy land or if you wish to follow sugar beet with winter wheat.

You can take advantage of earlier factory openings, allow more time to prepare an ideal seedbed for a following crop and still be assured of a profitable sugar beet crop.

6

When to use

When to drill

When to lift

Universal use, but particularly useful on heavier land and before winter wheat

Early, middle or late

Very good for early lifting, but suitable for all dates

Early-maturing Rhizomania-resistant

High sugar yield with rising trend AIMANTA has clearly outperformed Rosalinda KWS, the top variety on the 2011 and 2012 Recommended Lists, in each of the last three years.

AIMANTA vs Control varieties 2009–2011 Relative sugar yield (%) 104 2009 103

2010

102

2011

101 100 99 98 97 96

AIMANTA

Rosalinda KWS

Valeska

Bullfinch

Bobcat

Source: BBRO trials

Early lifting advantage Analysis of the 32 BBRO official trials 2006–2011 demonstrated that AIMANTA delivers yields well above average when lifted early in the Campaign. Compared to the mean adjusted yield of the Control varieties in the six years of trials, AIMANTA delivered between 4.5% and 8.5% relative yield advantage when lifted between 10th September and 30th October. This is equivalent, on average, to more than 5 tonnes per hectare.

Select CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed for the best possible start to your crop in 2013.

7

VARIETY SELECTION

The UK’s top-selling BCN tolerant variety BCN tolerant and Rhizomania resistant Good level of nematode tolerance proven by 5 years’ of independent trials Ideal for patchy or light to moderate infestations High yield potential on uninfested land Suitable for early drilling with excellent establishment Syngenta root shape for easier harvesting and low tare

SENTINEL is the highest yielding nematode-tolerant variety on the 2013 Recommended List, with a 4-year mean adjusted yield in uninfected conditions of 108.5 tonnes/ha.

Varieties tolerant to Beet Cyst Nematode (BCN) are an important new weapon in the armoury of beet growers. Many have welcomed the opportunity to grow beet in fields that have patches of nematode infestation, but are otherwise ideal.

With other nematode-tolerant varieties you need to accept a significant loss of yield on the uninfested portions of the field. However, because SENTINEL also gives high yields under uninfested conditions, it is an affordable way of growing beet in light/moderate infestations.

8

When to use

When to drill

When to lift

Light/moderate BCN infestation

Early, middle or late

At any time

The affordable answer to BCN

With the best bolting resistance of all the nematode-tolerant varieties and excellent establishment, SENTINEL is suitable for early drilling and provides an opportunity to capture the yield benefit that this can bring.

Performance of nematode-tolerant varieties in uninfested conditions Variety

Relative sugar %

Bolters/ha % Early sowing

Normal Sowing

SENTINEL

97.9

242

7

Annouschka KWS

91.4

729

7

Thor

92.7

356

9

Pitbull

92.6

310

1

BBRO trials 2008-11

Superior performance in low infestations

Relative adjusted tonnes %

SENTINEL

Annouschka KWS

Rosalinda KWS

Valeska

Bullfinch

104.9

83.9

100.4

100.8

100

BCN trials 2011: Armstrong Fisher – Waterbeach. Six replicate plots with low infestation.

Mean viable egg per g dry soil: 2.5. Mean root yield: 85.4 tonnes/ha. Mean sugar content: 19.6%.

Mean adjusted root yield: 109.8 tonnes/ha.

Superior performance in moderate infestations

Relative adjusted tonnes %

SENTINEL

Annouschka KWS

Rosalinda KWS

Valeska

Bullfinch

108.9

100.8

102.2

102.2

100

BCN trials 2011: Armstrong Fisher – Sutton. Six replicate plots with moderate infestations.

Mean viable egg per g dry soil: 20. Mean root yield: 57.74 tonnes/ha. Mean sugar content: 19.9%.

Mean adjusted root yield: 75.3 tonnes/ha.

Select CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed for the best possible start to your crop in 2013.

9

SEED TREATMENT

Market-leading control of all major crop pests CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed combines two powerful actives to help give your beet the best start.

The rapid systemic movement of thiamethoxam, even in dry conditions can give up to fourteen weeks’ protection from virus-carrying aphids and other foliar pests.

The strong vapour phase action of tefluthrin penetrates the soil to give strong protection against a wide range of soil pests.

Broad-spectrum control above and below ground Springtails

Pygmy Beetle

Flat Millipedes

Wireworm

Symphylids

Peach Potato Aphid

Spotted Snake Millipede Beet Leaf Miner / Mangold Fly

Benefit of CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed vs alternatives Results aggregated from many trials in recent years show the following likely benefits of using CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed.

Trial set

Yield and value advantage of CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed over clothianidin + beta-cyfluthrin treated seed

Yield and value advantage of CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed over imidacloprid treated seed.

Adjusted T/ha

* £/ha

Adjusted T/ha

* £/ha

Aphid control

+ 1.1

+ £30.28

+ 2.2

+ £60.56

Soil pests

+ 4.7

+ £129.39

+ 3.8

+ £104.61

* At 2012 contract price of £27.53/T. Source: Syngenta contract trials conducted by Broom’s Barn.

10

Seed protection above and below ground

Protection from Virus Yellows Virus Yellows are the major threat to sugar beet yields. Control of the aphid vectors is critical in protecting yield.

Neonicotinoid-based seed treatments are the backbone for early-season control of Myzus persicae (the key aphid vector). The second generation neonicotinoids typified by thiamethoxam found in CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed, provide the longest-lasting protection against Myzus persicae and Virus Yellows.

Broom’s Barn trials in 2010 showed that even when aphid attack occurs late in the season, CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed is less vulnerable to virus infection than beet seed treated with other products.

Syngenta seed treatment trial 2011 at Broom’s Barn Drilled on 24th March 2011 (4 treatments).

Inoculated on 9th May (6 weeks), 31st May (9 weeks) and 20th June (12 weeks).

Irrigated with 25mm water on 25th May. Virus symptoms counted on 30th June and 25th July.

Virus Yellows infection at 6 week inoculation timing Plants showing symptoms (%) 80

60

40

June LSD 8.6

CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed.

Fewer plants showing symptoms of infection

July LSD 14.8

20

0

CRUISER FORCE

imidacloprid

clothianidin + betacyfluthrin

STD

This graph demonstrates the low levels of Virus Yellows infection found in CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed during the very dry spring of 2011. CRUISER FORCE sugar beet seed also performs particularly well in wet conditions.

11