Sugar-beet growers affected by the planned closures at the Alscott and York processing plants will get a letter setting out their options in the next few days.

The NFU revealed on Tuesday (8 Aug) that it had reached a deal with British Sugar following a lengthy meeting in Peterborough.

John Hoyles, NFU sugar board chairman, said letters would be posted out to growers on Friday, 11 Aug, so they should arrive either over the weekend or Monday (14 Aug).

But he said he could not elaborate on the detail of the agreement, ahead of the letters going out.

A spokesman for British Sugar said the letter, which would go to all 6500 growers, would set out details of a new three-year Inter Professional Agreement and the basis of the industry restructuring scheme.

“It will explain the details of the new contract and what options are available to them as individuals.”