C-beet slump takes shine off yield bonanza
By Andrew Blake
SOME sugar-beet growers undoubtedly have their biggest crops ever this season, according to British Sugar.
With C-beet prices in the doldrums, that is leading many to rethink sowing plans.
With the UK area 7% down since 1997, that years record production of just under 1.6m tonnes of sugar is unlikely to be beaten this year, says BS.
“The good news is that sugar contents are holding up well, mainly due to growers leaving more beet in the ground longer,” says operations support manager Robin Limb.
Average at the turn of the year was 17.34% compared with 17.11% at the same time last season.
However, the running mean of 17.22% remains well below the equivalent 17.61% for 1998/99.
On the plus side, good growing conditions have left amino-N levels generally only in double figures, and dirt tares are about 1% lower than last season.
At 15%, more than twice as much beet was unlifted at the start of 2000 compared with the same point in 1999.
But only 20% remained in store, against 27% last year. “Its all part of a continuing trend to keep the crop in the ground in areas where it is safe to do so,” says Mr Limb.
Despite temperatures down to -14°C (7°F) in December in the West Midlands, frost damage has been remarkably absent, partly because frozen beet was processed before it deteriorated, he believes.
The millennium bug failed to bite due to two years planning and investment, he maintains. “We have had an incident-free New Year.”
“The campaign is going pretty smoothly,” says Nottinghamshire-based NFU sugar beet committee chairman Matt Twidale.
“Factories are running well, beet quality is good and we have had no real complaints from British Sugar.”
Main concern among growers, according to Rutland-based consultant Angus Kennedy, is that the mostly C quota unharvested crop will be worth very little, tempting them to look to stock feed outlets for immediate cash returns.
Although there is nothing to stop surplus beet being sold in this way, growers must keep records of its destination under the Rhizomania regulations, warns Mr Limb.
Discing-in heavy crops can acidify soils and encourage disease, he adds.
Clients have been very laid back about getting C-beet out of the ground, says Norfolk contractor John Orford.
“We have seen yields 5-10% up on last year. I think a lot of people will be cutting their acreages this year.”
Suffolk contractor Ken Rush still hopes to finish most of the 2400ha (6000 acres) he lifts each year by 15 January, the cut-off for putting land into set-aside.
“We are seeing some enormous root yields.”