Carrot Review

6 CARROT REVIEW JANUARY 2021 FROM THE BCGA ... “ A difficult year – but barriers have been overcome and we’re looking forward to a ‘return to norm’ in 2021 …” The British Carrot Growers Association (BCGA) represents the UK carrot industry, the growers and the affiliated industries. The British Carrot Growers Association is the major trade association for the carrot industry, representing the majority of the carrots growers and farms in the UK. Every year the British Carrot Association organise the Variety Demonstration and Exhibition, a trade event to show off the latest varieties and yields in the way of field trials. W ITHIN the BCGA, our R&D committee meets three times per year to discuss the key challenges facing the industry and to guide AHDB projects and to disseminate AHDB and other organisation’s research results. Ian Holmes, R&D Chairman and Company Agronomist for Strawson Ltd, reports from the committee: “Recent developments have included confirming support for progression of an AHDB-funded project into cavity spot management, focussed on soil health interactions and soil management practices. “We hope that this will lead to suitable practical advice to help us all with this key disease. Alongside this will run a cavity spot treatment screening trial as part of the SCEPTRE+ project. Work is also currently ongoing in the area of aphid and virus management, although along with a number of other projects this has had to take a sabbatical during 2020 owing to COVID restrictions and will restart in 2021.” “A number of projects have had to take a sabbatical during 2020 owing to COVID restrictions and will restart in 20.”