To maximise the profitability of a sugar beet crop, it is important that the sugar beet grower can identify attacks by pests and diseases at an early stage - so that he can treat them effectively, seek advice and information about them or learn how to avoid problems in the future.

Some common pests and leaf diseases may occur in every growing season and growers will be familiar with them, others are less common (e.g. nematodes) or more sporadic (e.g. rhizomania) and will be seen only under specific conditions of temperature and time of year. With the climate appearing to change for the warmer we are tending to see greater levels of pests and diseases than we have commonly encountered in the past. Root diseases are becoming more widespread and prevalent.

In the following pages, you will find information about the most common pests and diseases - a short description of the symptoms will hopefully facilitate identification.

For more information and advice, just click on the disease or pest in question. However, for a completely certain diagnosis a laboratory test can sometimes be required.