The first aphid is forecast to fly on 22 April.
Run independently by the Rothamsted Research Institute for more than 60 years, the Rothamsted model produces a scientific, statistically robust forecast of aphid pressure each March based on weather data from the preceding winter.
Despite the January frosts, warmer than average temperatures, particularly through February, are likely to have provided suitable conditions for the overwintering of aphid populations.
Remain vigilant
It is important to note that 59.15% will be the highest level of projected Virus Yellows pressure that the UK sugar beet sector has faced without neonicotinoid seed treatments since the Virus Yellows pandemic of 2020. That year, 38% of the crop was infected nationally with total yields down 25%. Some individual growers suffered infection levels of up to 80%.
With this in mind, growers are urged to remain vigilant this growing season. Timely and appropriate use of aphicides will be required if crops reach the spray threshold of 1 aphid per four plants (up to the 12-leaf stage). Growers will again have access to a three-spray programme in 2026 of acetamiprid, flonicamid, and flupyradifurone.
In season advice will be issued by the BBRO (British Beet Research Organisation) as aphid pressures build, with monitoring information made available via the CropWatch network.
Further information and regionalised forecasts are available on the BBRO website.
