Heavy rainfall worsens beet growers worries
Heavy rainfall worsens beet growers worries
By Andrew Blake
HEAVY East Anglian rain and a forecast of more to come have raised fears for unprocessed sugar beet and British Sugars ability to cope in a higher yielding season.
More wet weather will rule out the sowing of following winter cereals and could jeopardise planned spring drillings, while harsh weather could write off unharvested fields, say growers and contractors.
Filters blocked by frosted beet at BSs Cantley factory are the latest processing problems.
Growers losses in an extended campaign go well beyond the crop, stresses Brian Reynolds of Norfolk farming company Albanwise whose beet goes to Wissingtons beleaguered factory. His 188ha (465 acres) were lifted by Jan 23. "But we normally have it all out by Dec 15.
"We will have to sow spring barley instead of wheat. Late haulage in wet weather will cause more damage to the farms tracks. And when we sit down with our hauliers next year I am sure they will be looking for a premium to cart to Wissington."
Late delivery bonuses, which double after Feb 21, should just about compensate for sugar losses in clamps, says Suffolk contractor Ken Rush who runs two six-row harvesters. "We still have 300 acres to do out of about 3600. But another five-day cold snap like we had earlier could finish off crops in the ground."
For farmers weeklys eastern barometer farmer Peter Wombwell, who had about 10% of his 43ha (107 acres) unlifted at the start of the week, it is the knock-on effect on soil structure that worries him most.
Earlier sugar level was 16.9% and he hopes for similar from the rest. "But I had peas planned to follow, and peas do not want to be muddled in."
On Monday Norfolk contractor John Orfords six-row machine still faced 80ha (200 acres) for six customers. "It is not a disaster yet, provided we get the right weather. The main problem is trying to tie up permits and keep everyone happy."
Norfolk customers Andrew and William Aves say sugars in crops taken up a month ago were acceptable at 16.8-16.9%. "We have not had any figures back on the latest lifted, but we had to top a bit harder than we like to take off any frost damage, and I reckon we are losing 1-2t/ha."
"The real trouble is that there is no longer any spare capacity," says Mr Orford. "British Sugar wont be able to cope with a bigger crop." *
BS estimates about 9% of the UK beet crop was unharvested on Tuesday with another 11% still in clamps. Sugar levels, averaging 17.3%, are 0.2% up on the same time last year.
• Drawn out campaign
• Quality mainly OK so far.
• Fears of more bad weather.
• BS over-stretched in good year?