Mark Ireland
Mark Ireland
Mark Ireland farms with
his father and brother at
Grange Farm, North
Rauceby, Lincs. Sugar beet
and barley are the core
crops on the 1004ha (2481
acres) heathland unit
AS I pulled up at the house a fortnight ago the lambs grazing on stubble turnips seemed to typify the day.
They looked miserable, cold and wet with a fairly uncertain future.
Earlier in the day the return to wet weather had halted ploughing and drilling spring barley and then the local radio station announced Lincolnshires only beet factory is to close permanently at the end of this campaign. That was then compounded by news of two further closures.
There have always been rumours about the long-term future of Bardney and the fact that last year it processed only 6% of the crop – the same percentage that we, as growers, took out of production last year, made it even more likely that the possibility of closure loomed. But to close three factories suggests British Sugar is taking a very pessimistic view on the current review of the sugar regime and "Everything but Arms" proposal.
I am sure any "change of heart" by British Sugar is out of the question so it must be down to the NFU to try to negotiate the best deal possible for growers affected. Many will have to haul beet much greater distances at a time when haulage costs are going up and transport payment from British sugar is going down.
Our longest dry spell since mid-September and some decent frost in the middle of January did allow us to catch up on a few outstanding jobs. Fields previously too wet for the fertiliser spreader to travel on received an application of phosphate and potash and, unusually for us, a couple of ploughed beet fields had 2t/ha of ground limestone applied to correct low pH. Both operations hardly made a mark.
We are always looking to cut costs so have decided not to treat the spring barley seed with Evict (tefluthrin) against wheat bulb fly. That allows us to use our own dresser but also means we will have to be extremely vigilant of this devastating little pest. *
Bad news for beet… Factory closures make British Sugars view on Everything but Arms clear, says Mark Ireland.