Extended sugar campaign follows harvesting difficulties

Peter Watson, agriculture director British Sugar says: “Although we have seen challenging harvesting conditions with high levels of rainfall, the sugar beet campaign is progressing well, and some very welcome drier weather recently has helped with lifting. We are very grateful for the efforts of all growers, harvesters, hauliers and contractors who continue to keep our four factories supplied.

“So far, we have lifted around two-thirds of the crop, and are expecting yields to be slightly above average and higher than last year. Our factories have not always been running at full capacity due to the weather and subsequent lifting conditions so the campaign will extend slightly, but we would urge our growers with sugar beet in the ground to take every opportunity to lift.”

NFU Sugar chairman Michael Sly says 1.18 – 1.2 million tonnes of sugar is expected to have been produced from UK beet by the end of the season compared with 1.13 million tonnes last year despite the UK sugar beet area being 9-10 per cent down on last year.

“Looking at the 2020 crop, due to pressure on autumn sown crops we expect to see a similar area or higher than 2019 – about 105,000ha for 2020. It is a reasonable alternative spring crop to grow should conditions allow.”