British Sugar announces sugar beet campaign start dates.

British Sugar has announced the factory start dates for the 2010/11 sugar beet processing campaign.

The dates are: Newark 17 September, Wissington 20 September, Bury St Edmunds 7 October and Cantley 12 October.

Colm McKay, British Sugar’s Agriculture Director, said the campaign dates were slightly later this year compared with 2009 to allow the crop to bulk up.

“The crop is later developing this year following the dry conditions we had in July,” he explained.

“We are trying to allow the crop to develop further and increase in yield, specifically to allow the sugar content to rise.”

Mr McKay said delaying the start date at some sites would allow sugar content levels to rise above 16% during the early campaign.