1. Long term survey of cultural practices in France
Gouwie C.1, Dupin S.1
Background
Sugar beet technical management is variable according to years, regions and sometimes within the farms themselves. The knowledge of these practices is fundamental to analyze the temporal and geographical heterogeneousness of the agricultural practices and to find their controlling factors. Observing the evolution of agricultural practices allows us to adapt and adjust our technical recommendations. It leads the sector to adopt the best practices for sugar beet production.
1990’s: surveys on specific points
Multiple uses and still developing
Since 1997: annual global survey
Recognized knowledge data base
Long history
Leading to global survey
How do we lead the survey ?
Who:
500 sugar beet growers – 70 % fidelity
everywhere in France according to a panel
When: each year
What:
all sugar beet fields of the farm
from previous harvest to storage of sugar beet
How: survey on paper
How do we analyze the answers?
ITB created parameterized program
Each theme (fertilization, pesticides …) individually analyzed
Descriptive statistics about practices in fields, outcomes:
Indicators
Graphs
Multiannual comparisons
Comparison with reference sources (i.e. agriculture ministry)
How do we use the results ?
 In-company: as reference indicators
Sugar beet sector: as multiannual indicators
In-company: to guide our experimental trials
Research: raw data in specific studies
Examples of results
Reduction of inputs
Mineral fertilizers: N 50 % off , P & K 70 % off since 1997
Plant protection products: 30 % off since 1997
insecticides: 75 % off - fungicides: 50 % off - herbicides: 12 % up
Resources preservation
Bare soil: 60 days less since 2006
Due to the implementation of cover crops
(Surfaces : From 30 % in 1997 to 90 % in 2014)
Water: irrigated surfaces from 12 % in 2010 to 8 % in 2014
Air: during sugar beet production
CO2 emissions 3.6 t/ha in 2006 to 2.3 t/ha in 2014
CO2 uptake 40 t/ha
Energy: Fuel consumption from 13.7 L/ton of sugar in 1997 to 10.7 L/ton of sugar in 2014
While yield has increased by 68 % between 1984 and 2014
Some future challenges we can already note in the survey:
12 % up herbicides  How can we help growers manage weed control ? (in the context of ECOPHYTO 2025 : 50 % off)
Harvest machinery evolution: risks of packing ? Organization ? Scheduling ? Storage ?
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