Sugar beet harvesting is under way in eastern England, with growers hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s disastrous campaign.

Lifting has started two weeks earlier than usual ahead of factories opening on Wednesday 14 September.

Farmers are taking advantage of the early start to get beet out of the ground.

David Papworth, of Norfolk growers LF Papworth Ltd, said he expected to deliver 150t to the Cantley factory on Tuesday.

He told Farmers Weekly: “We’ve had enough rain and conditions on the field are perfect. We’re lifting beet with the taproots on, which is important. We think we’ve got a good crop.”

British Sugar factories at Bury St Edmunds, Newark and Wissington are also preparing to accept deliveries.

Sugar is at a premium this year and the processing giant wants to get its hands on as much as possible.

It has introduced new rules encouraging growers to slice less off the top of each beet – so long as what remains can be processed.

They’re in luck. This time last year, sugar content was low and so were the weights. This year the crop is ready.

William Martin, NFU sugar board chairman, said beet looked good in the field and he was optimistic for the season ahead.

Farmers will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year, when an exceptionally cold winter, followed by unseasonally warm weather, left crops rotting in the fields.

Colm McKay, British Sugar agriculture director, said growers were keen to make an early start to this year’s harvesting.

“Conditions are favourable following recent rainfall, which has helped offset the effects of an exceptionally dry period during the spring.”

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