Farming Monthly National May 2016 | Page 23

| Arable FIREFLY - lighting the way to a brighter tomorrow SESVANDERHAVE is proud to announce the addition of its latest sugar beet variety FIREFLY to the 2017 British Beet Research Organisation Recommended List. IREFLY is what the UK market needs and wants,” says Ian Munnery, Director for SESVANDERHAVE UK. “It offers: higher yield, lower bolting and excellent establishment. By maximising yields and minimising risks, Firefly gives confidence that is so essential when planning the variety sowing mix in the current market. “As well as trying new varieties, it is equally important to use a proportion of proven, fully recommended varieties like Springbok, Cayman and Stingray within that mix. With more fully recommended (R) varieties than any other breeder, SESVANDERHAVE varieties are shown to endure after at least 6 years of official F www.farmingmonthly.co.uk testing and continue to deliver exceptional results. “Alongside Hornet and Beet Cyst Nematode variety Aurora, SESVANDERHAVE provides a choice of sugar beet varieties for all a grower’s requirements.” Richard Robinson, the company’s Trials and Research Manager comments: “It is really pleasing for our UK R&D team to deliver yet another successful variety from our UK programme. This justifies the time and effort we invest in one of the most extensive trials and evaluation programmes for the UK market.” “Soil conditions have made drilling this year very challenging. Lincolnshire fared better than other sugar beet areas, allowing us to get those trials drilled in good time starting in late February with the early sown bolting trials. Further south in Suffolk conditions meant we were delayed until mid-April – which mirrors the tale of two halves seen in the national crop. “It is really pleasing for our UK R&D team to deliver yet another successful variety from our UK programme” “Frosts and snow at the end of April really does highlight why we and growers pay so much attention to selecting lower bolting varieties like Firefly.” May 2016 | Farming Monthly | 23