Sugar beet growers still believe they should meet quota targets this season, despite earlier fears about the impact of the summer heatwave on yields and quality.

Newark and Wissington factories have both opened. The latter was processing 16,500-17,000t a day at average sugar levels of 16.35%, said British Sugar’s Robin Limb.

“Sugar contents are close to normal – they’re usually in the high 16s at this time and increase by 0.2-0.4% a week through the autumn until their peak in November.”

Average dirt tares at both factories were very low at 2.7%, while crown tares were about normal at 9.4%. Amino nitrogen impurities were in the low 90s (mg/100g sugar), also close to normal.

Mr Limb was optimistic crops had time to make up for any yield potential lost during the dry summer, but he was unsure whether they would beat last year’s average yield of 60 adjusted tonnes/ha.

“We’ve had a lot of rain over the past few days, so with last week’s sun and adequate moisture, beet is still growing well. From 1 September onwards, crops can put on another 40%, so there’s quite a bit left in the yield bank yet.”

But to make sure lifting fits with delivery schedules, some early lifting may be required, he said. “The main thing to remember is not to lift too soon – not only will you lose yield, but you’ll also lose sugar through respiration as beet sits in the clamp.”

Lincolnshire-based Farmer Focus writer Mark Ireland had not started lifting by 26 September. “I’m surprised Newark has opened as early as it has,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve got enough beet there yet, although half an inch of rain over the weekend should help.”

He expected to start harvesting the first field on heavy land next week, although the bulk of his 170ha would wait until the end of October. “We’re having to manage the situation at the moment to give us a chance of making quota.”