1996 SURVEY OF SUGAR-BEET PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

The biennial survey of sugar beet production techniques begun in 1994 is becoming an increasingly valuable data base for advisory services. The results provide better evidence of regional peculiarities as well as of general trends. Data on weed and disease incidence reveal annual effects which perhaps can be used to devise future treatment strategi es. Aside from a few exceptions, no major changes in production techni ques were recorded in the period 1994 to 1996. However, the results in dicate that farmers increasingly use cost-effective and environment-fr iendly methods in sugar beet production. There is 3 growing regional d ifferentiation in soil preparation practices. The application of soil and aphid insecticides has declined thanks to improved protectice seed treatment. Labour-intensive operations, such as machine hoeing, are l ikewise on the decrease. Cooperation between farms and the deployment of wage labour have clearly increased.