The new sugar beet campaign is off to a “shaky start”, according to British Sugar, with dry soil conditions plus a general unwillingness to lift from growers hoping for crops to add further yield, creating tight supplies in the early weeks of the campaign.

All of the sugar factories had been “hand-to-mouth”, British Sugar’s Robin Limb said. “By and large we have been running somewhat on a knife edge, with Newark being probably the most challenged. ”

Growers in some areas had been physically unable to lift because of very dry soil conditions, he explained. Other growers were waiting for crops to add further yield before harvesting. “But I expect the situation to solve itself over the next few weeks.”

John Barrett, FW’s eastern barometer farmer, had had his beet diverted from usual factory Cantley to Bury St Edmunds because of the supply situation, he said. “Apparently Bury is struggling to get enough to keep going.”

Just under 17ha had been lifted, with another 20ha due for harvesting this week. Yields, he estimated, averaged around 45t/ha. “But in places it is very poor.”

Some regions were reporting decent yields, according to Mr Limb. “In the south part of East Anglia where crops didn’t get the excessive rainfall there have been yields of over 70t/ha adjusted.”

Relatively decent sugar contents, averaging just over 17.5%, were helping boost growers’ incomes, he said.

But there was a massive range in yields this year, he admitted. “Some are poor, others disastrous, yet for some sugar yields of 10-11t/ha are achievable this year.”

The early vibes Ross Haddow of Stody Estate, Melton Constable in Norfolk had received were of very variable yields, and mostly disappointing. He was waiting to start lifting on his light soils because of a below-average crop. “We might not start lifting until November.”

His strategy for achieving reliable high yields on his light land in any season was not to lift early in any case, he said. “I find heavier-land growers to use my permit early in the season, and use theirs later on. The ones I’ve swapped with think I’ve got the right strategy this season – many of them are reluctant to lift, too.”

Other growers were keen to lift, to plant wheat, he noted. “It depends on soil type to a certain extent – we usually follow our beet with something like vining peas.”

Tilney St Lawrence grower Andrew Lensen had lifted just under 50% of his 300ha of beet, partly to allow him to get on with wheat drilling, he said. Yields of 45-50t/ha were down on his usual 55-60t/ha.

“But it is good going at the moment. I’ve been able to minimise soil structural damage and it is already drilled with wheat.”

Yields from initially harvested sugar beet fields are variable, and mostly disappointing, according to growers.