Damage limitation vital for uneven beet crops
Damage limitation vital for uneven beet crops
By Edward Long
CONDITIONS for early beet harvesting are the worst for years, making careful lifting and handling a priority, says British Sugar. An uneven plant population and consolidated soils means a higher risk of harvester losses than last year.
A BS survey last year revealed that with a good plant stand losses averaged around 3%, equivalent to 2.3t/ha (0.9t/acre) and worth more than £73/ha (£30/acre). In the previous year, when the average loss was 3.6%, top growers lost just 1.2t/ha (0.5t/acre), whereas the worst harvested 5.2t/ha (2.1t/acre) less root weight.
"Higher losses can be expected this autumn as irregular plant stands are more difficult to lift efficiently than even ones," says BSs Stephen Brown. "This and the tough conditions caused by the consolidating effect of the heavy April rainfall will increase the risk of beet being left in the row or damaged by the topper"
Two-thirds of harvester losses usually occur when roots snap off at lifting, or are smashed by the cleaning mechanism. The rest go when whole roots are either missed by the lifters, fall through the harvester, or roll off the delivery trailer. A lot can also be damaged when the trailer backs into the beet.
The combination of high sugars and Indian Summer temperatures will increase the economic impact of bruising damage caused by knocks and bumps this year, warns BS. The average sugar content in the week when the first crops were lifted was 16.8% – 0.2% higher than the same time last year.
Bruising often goes unnoticed, but red scuff marks on freshly-lifted roots provide the tell-tale signs that they have taken a battering. They should not be put into long-term clamps as bacteria soon get to work and sugar is lost as rotting starts, advises BS.
ANTI-DAMAGE HIT-LIST
• Match lifting mechanism to soil conditions if possible. Skid and disc lifters cope best in hard conditions, vibrating shares and Oppel wheels in wet.
• Avoid driving off row. Momentary lapse of concentration driving a 6-row harvester can result in 1t of losses within a few metres as roots are missed or sliced but not lifted.
• Ensure harvester is well-maintained. Worn parts increase risk of breakages as beet are either sliced, stabbed or disappear through gaps in framework.
• Web and turbine speeds must be matched to cleaning needs of crop arriving from topper unit. If run too fast, or with inadequate soil cushion, beet can be thrown around and damaged.
• Avoid backing trailers into clamp or tractors running onto beet.
• Roots with tell-tale red scuffing should not go into long-term clamps.
Anti-damage hit list
• Match lifting mechanism to soil conditions if possible. Skid and disc lifters cope best in hard conditions, vibrating shares and Oppel wheels in wet.
• Avoid driving off row. Even a momentary lapse of concentration driving a 6-row harvester can result in 1t of losses within a few metres as roots are missed or sliced but not lifted.
• Ensure harvester is well-maintained. Worn parts increase risk of breakages as beet are either sliced, stabbed or disappear through gaps in framework.
• Web and turbine speeds must be matched to cleaning needs of crop arriving from topper unit. If run too fast, or with inadequate soil cushion, beet can be thrown around and damaged.
• Avoid backing trailers into clamp or tractors running onto beet.
• Roots with tell-tale red scuffing should not go into long-term clamps.