This season’s difficult weather conditions have brought short-term issues of seed quality and availability into sharp focus for many growers. The problems experienced this year have prompted a number of questions from growers about the regulatory position on seed use and supply.

In recent years, increasing environmental concerns over Nitrogen leaching, soil erosion and also, the spread of soil bourne pests, such as Beet Cyst Nematode, has lead to increasing interest in both conventional and nematode resistant, cover crops. With a specialised breeding programme targeting solutions to these concerns, Saaten-Union are pleased to be able to offer an increasing range of technically proven catch crops which can be used, not only to reduce nutrient and soil loss, but also, reduce levels of soil pests, such as cyst nematode, in beet and potato rotations.