Fodder beet
Fodder Beet is one of the highest yielding forage options available to farmers.
Fodder Beet is a long growing-season crop which requires a high level of care in establishment but as it is not a brassica it is not as susceptible to the diseases that brassica is and once established is highly palatable to animals.
Fodder Beet requires a weed free, firm fine seedbed that is well drained with no sub soil compaction. Sowing is best in late September – mid November (soil temp 5 degrees Celsius, after the last frosts).
Sowing rate is recommended at between 80,000 and 100,000 plants per hectare precision drilled. If seed is sown using conventional drill, then a higher seeding rate is needed to reduce gaps within the crop. Care is required when establishing a seed bed but after establishment the crop will tolerate moderate drought conditions better than some forage plants currently used. To promote rapid establishment seed should be sown to a depth of 2-3cm, in drier seed beds you are best to sow slightly deeper so the seed can access as much moisture early on as possible. Fodder Beet is a demanding crop but if done properly can be extremely profitable.
Recommended Fodder beet cultivars
*Please note, the below mentioned dry matter % are indications only. Specialty Seeds recommends testing all fodder beet paddocks prior to use for their dry matter percentage.
The following cultivar, Geronimo has been selected by Specialty Seeds as their preferred cultivar for the 2021/2022 fodder beet seed selling season. We have identified this line of fodder beet as, a medium-high DM producing type that has been proven in New Zealand trials and on farm for many years.
| Bangor | Medium dry matter (16-18%). Bangor is a modern monogerm hybrid variety that is ideal for grazing. Bangor is a uniform fodder beet with a medium bulb dry matter percentage with a high yield potential. Approximately 50% of the bulb is above the ground
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| Brigadier | Low dry matter (12-14%DM) Brigadier is a traditional polyploid mangle type fodder beet with orange roots. Brigadier fodder beet sits higher out of the soil (>60%) compared to other forms of fodder beet. This suits in-situ grazing by animals. The roots of Brigadier are typically high in energy but low in crude protein. The tops have a lower energy value but good crude protein levels. Together they form a balanced nutritional feed.
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| Brunium | Average dry matter (16-20%DM). Brunium is an ideal cultivar where a history of Rhizoctonia has been experienced on farm. It is highly suitable for both grazing and lifting. Oval and red bulb, approximately 40-50% of bulb above ground. | ||
| Cerise | High dry matter type (18-21%). Cerise is a recent breeding release from Florimond Desprez, with a uniform yellow/green tankard shaped bulb. True mono-germ cultivar. yellow/green bulbs with approximately 40-50 % of bulb above ground. Particularly good resistance to bolting
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| Enermax | High dry matter type (19-21%). Enermax was bred specifically for farmers wanting to lift, store and feed fodder beet to animals. It produces white/green bulbs with a consistent size and height. The yield potential is high and the high bulb dry matter percentage which is an advantage for lifting. Enermax is a modern monogerm hybrid variety with high-quality seed for consistent establishment. 40-50% of bulb above ground | ||
| Feldherr | Low dry matter type (12-15%). Feldherr is a high yielding, monogerm hybrid fodder beet with a light orange bulb colour. Feldherr can produce large orange bulbs and high yields for its type and is suitable for all classes of stock, particularly young stock, older animals and deer. Feldherr has a high proportion (60-80%) of the bulb out of the ground. | ||
| Geronimo
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| Gustea | High dry matter (20-22%) fodder beet with both fodder beet and sugar beet parentage, released for the first time in New Zealand this year. Gustea sits approximately 30% above the ground and has very strong disease and bolting tolerance. Gustea is best suited for farmers wanting to lift and feed to stock and under certain conditions can be grazed in-situ by some classes of stock. | ||
| Laurena | High dry matter (20-22% DM). Laurena is a new generation beet which is brand new to the New Zealand market. Laurena is a very high DM fodder beet originating from Europe. It has white/green, conical shaped bulbs that sit +/- 30% above the ground. Laurena is a very high yielding variety with a bulb Laurena has strong tolerance to many fodder beet diseases, including rhizomania and rhizoctonia. The crop is most suited to lifting, fed whole or chopped. | ||
| OE967 | Average dry matter (12-14% DM). OE967 is a recently bred, low dry matter mono-germ fodder beet variety. Proven throughout New Zealand in a range of on-farm trials, OE967 represents the newest genetics available in fodder beet breeding with very good disease and bolting tolerance. OE967 has a soft fleshed bulb with an and is easily grazed by animals of all ages due to its large protruding red bulb that sits 60%+ out of the ground. |
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| OE968 | Medium dry matter (14-16%DM).OE968 is a new mono-germ fodder beet variety available to the New Zealand market this season and has a similar breeding background/parentage to OE967 but with a slightly higher bulb dry matter percentage OE968 has a large red tankard shaped bulb that sits approximately 50%+ above the ground with good disease and bolting tolerance. The crop can be grazed in-situ by all stock types. |
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| Jamon | High Dry Matter Type (16-18% dry matter) Jamon is a very uniform, mono-germ cultivar that has been evaluated in New Zealand for a number of years. It is an orange skinned cultivar with a bulb drymatter percentage of between 16 -18%, similar to many current industry products. Jamon is French fodder beet breeders Florimond Desprez’s most popular product and with our New Zealand experience we believe it complements Agricom’s current fodder beet range. For more information please download the Jamon fodderbeet brochure. |
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| Lifta
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Medium – High Dry Matter Type (17 – 19% DM) SF LIFTA™ is the latest in medium – high dry matter harvestable fodder beet, it offers excellent in-field performance. SF LIFTA™ offers unsurpassed leaf quality and is very tolerant to leaf diseases particularly mildew and rust which can be prevalent in New Zealand conditions. Ideal for grazing and/or mechanical harvesting producing significant yields. For more information please download the LIFTA Fodderbeet brochure |
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| Monro |
Low dry matter (13-15 %DM). Monro is a red coloured beet with a large more rounded bulb shape. It is suitable for in paddock grazing where it is readily accessible to the grazing animal. 60% of the bulb is above the ground. |
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| Robbos
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Medium/High Dry Matter Type (12 – 19%DM) Robbos fodder beet has a medium to high Dry matter yield 12 – 19% with a clean yellow root ideal for dairy and beef production. Contact contact Specialty Seeds for more information |
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| Tadorne | High dry matter (20-26%DM). Tadorne is a sugar beet from Florimond Desprez. It has an exceptionally low soil tare and is only suitable to be mechanically harvested and not grazed in-situ. Tadorne has an upright leaf habit, with white bulbs of a remarkably high dry matter percentage. Tadorne has had outstanding yield results in New Zealand conditions for the last six years. | ||
| Upbeet
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Lower dry matter type (up to 13%DM). More root above the soil. A better option for grazing as it is a softer to bite, suitable for feeding younger stock.
For more information on Upbeat click here to contact Specialty Seeds. |
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| 1505BV
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SF 1505Bv is a newly released genetic monogerm hybrid type fodder beet. It offers medium – high dry matter ensuring maximum yield potential.
SF 1505Bv will suit both grazing in-situ or self-harvesting, ensuring feeding system versatility. It offers a high leaf: bulb ratio which helps make it suitable for a range of grazing systems. Agronomic features:
For more information on 1505BV click here to contact Specialty Seeds.
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Other Fodder beet cultivars well sell.
Sugar beet cultivars
| Cultivar | Product information |
| Suga
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Very High Dry Matter Type (23 – 26%) SF SUGA is a new sugar beet variety with very high bulb dry matter. This helps ensure maximum harvestable yield and prolongs its storage ability. SF SUGA offers very good tolerance to the main beet diseases. For more information please download the SF Suga Fodderbeet brochure |
Other Fodder beet varieties no longer available:
Betimo
Bergman sugar beet
Blaze
Blizzard
Kyros
Monoro
Lactimo
Magnum
Ribambelle
Ribondo
Rivage
Spendide
Summo
Tintinel
Troya
Downloads:
Please click here to view the Fodder beet information downloads.
If you would like to talk to someone more about whether Fodder Beet will suit your farm please click here to contact Specialty Seeds.