Earlier this month, the Germains UK Sugar Beet team sponsored and attended the British Beet Research Organisation’s (BBRO) first Drill Operator Training day of the 2018-19 season. This is the fourth year that Germains has sponsored the sessions, which provide a fantastic guide to achieving optimum drilling performance, both for the drill and its operator.

About the Drill Operator Training Days

“A successful sugar beet harvest begins with the preparation of the seed bed and ensuring optimum  performance of both drill and operator” – BBRO, 2018

The drill training sessions focus around four key principles involved in promoting good crop establishment:

• Practical soil management
• Cultivation techniques
• Seed handling and storage
• Drill maintenance

Implementing this best practice can help to promote more consistent and uniform field emergence and ultimately deliver higher yields.

The sessions are also supported by Kverneland, Monosem and Väderstad, providing practical demonstrations for drill maintenance and achieving optimum drilling performance out on the field.

Germains’ Best Practice Advice: Seed Handling and Storage

The Germains UK Sugar Beet team was on hand to support with best practice advice on handling and storing seed.

Germains representatives, Kate Lindley and Kate Murfitt, discussed the importance of wearing protective gloves and appropriate clothing when handling seed during drilling. These instructions can also be found on the unit packs. It was also advised to ensure that seed is stored in a cool, dry and ventilated place with any opened unit packs stored in a sealed, polythene bag.

Thank you!

We would like to thank the BBRO team for organising the days and we look forward to meeting more growers, operators and contractors at the final session in the new year.

Keep up-to-date with the UK Sugar Beet Team by following our Twitter page @GermainsUKBeet.