Webinar will offer advice on growing fodder beet in Scotland

The hour long webinar will explain trials currently being undertaken on five Monitor Farms - Borders, Sutherland, Lochaber, Shetland and Angus.

Project facilitator, Kirsten Williams from SAC Consulting, will explain the action 'research project' focusing on fodder beet currently being run by the Monitor Farm Scotland initiative.

She will then be joined by Dr Alex Sinclair, senior consultant and soil and nutrient specialist from SAC Consulting, to discuss the nutrient requirements of the growing crop, including nitrogen requirements, salt reactions in the soil and timings for applying trace elements.

This webinar is part of a series that will be held as part of this farmer-led action research project, funded through the Monitor Farm Scotland innovation pot, which is exploring ways to collate and share information on farming activities.

Through the fodder beet trials, the team will develop a much needed knowledge repository on growing fodder beet, covering all of the growing stages, which then can be used by farmers from across Scotland who are looking to grow a winter forage crop.

Project coordinator, Kirsten Williams from SAC Consulting, explains: "Fodder beet offers many potential benefits to livestock producers in Scotland, the largest of which is the yield potential, which is larger than any other forage crop grown in the UK. 

"The high yield potential gives the crop the ability to be the cheapest forage per kg of dry matter, while the excellent nutrition gives it the ability to be the cheapest forage per mega joule of energy.

"Achieving the yield in a cost effective manner is key to maximising the potential of the crop."

Anyone interested in registering for the webinar can sign up here.

 Monitor Farm Scotland is a joint initiative managed by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds with funding from the Scottish Government. The aim of the monitor farm programme is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.