Henk van der Struik devotes a lot of time and attention to his sugar beet cultivation. With targeted use of fertilizers and crop protection products, he tries to keep the crop green for as long as possible. Variety choice and care for the soil also contribute to the good results he achieves. “It's almost ICM.”
“I am now a full-time farmer again,” laughs Henk van der Struik. Until about five years ago, the entrepreneur was mainly active in real estate and project development. "But since I knew that both my sons wanted to take over the company, I have entered a different phase. And that also applies to our company." During the period of his brokerage, the arable farm shrank from 100 to 90 hectares, but Van der Struik now wants to expand again. He also invests to prepare the company for his successors. He has just bought a new field sprayer and there is more on the agenda. "There will be a washing area with a Phytobac and a new shed for the storage and processing of the onions and for machine storage." Van der Struik has a cultivation plan with 25 hectares of starch potatoes, 25 hectares of sugar beets and the third block of 25 hectares will be filled with sowing onions and beans. On the remaining 15 hectares, van der Struik contributes to nature with field edges.
Healthy soil
Van der Struik realizes that the share of sugar beets is also on the high side for a Veenkolonial construction plan. "But that is precisely why I pay a lot of attention to soil health. I use a lot of animal manure and, if there is space, I supplement with compost. And I sow as many green manures as possible." Sugar beet cultivation makes an important contribution to the income from his arable farm, says the Veenkoloniale farmer. "The beet price has been moving in the right direction for a few years now and with an average yield of 98 tons with 17% sugar, I am achieving very good balances." For 2023, Van der Struik arrived at 108 tons with 16% sugar. To achieve these above-average results, Van der Struik makes very conscious choices in cultivation. He chooses a variety that not only scores well in terms of financial return, but also looks at cercospora sensitivity and ground cover. By hoeing and ridging he manages to limit the number of herbicide sprays, and thus the number of times crop inhibition, to four. Van der Struik also applies a leaf fertilizer and a biostimulant. He does this in consultation with his Agrifirm advisor Weal Cuperus, who also participated in the interview. "Henk tries in many ways to keep the crop healthy for as long as possible. You can safely call it ICM (integrated crop management)," says Cuperus. "And despite the relatively high share of sugar beets, the disease pressure is often not too bad."
Tackling leaf fungi
And that brings the conversation to tackling leaf fungi. Because he grows one in three, Van der Struik is slightly more at risk from cercospora because the fungus survives in the soil for more than three years. "I therefore always keep a close eye on the weather and the BAS app and I often start spraying leaf disease before there are any warnings," says the arable farmer. Both Cuperus and Van der Struik are happy with the arrival of the new fungicide belanty that is effective on all leaf molds in beets. "Belanty contains a new active substance and that makes it a good alternating partner in the spray schedule," Cuperus explains. "It is important that you always spray the Belanty together with a suitable partner product to prevent resistance development." Van der Struik is especially happy with the good effect of his spraying schedule with two doses of Belanty. "With the exception of a few small spots, the beets remained healthy until the end belanty has proven itself to be a solid and reliable tool."
Resistance management is also important for alternaria in potatoes
belanty is also permitted in potatoes and is used against sclerotinia and alternaria. The alternaria often emerged late in recent seasons, but can quickly kill a potato crop, resulting in serious yield loss. The number of means available for combating alternaria is significantly less than for phytopthora. Alternating spraying with the fungicides Propulse and the new product Belanty not only gives the best results, but is also an effective way to prevent resistance. Here, following FRAC guidelines is important to maintain an effective resource package. The advice is to always start the control of alternaria and sclerotinia with: belanty and then alternate.