As this year鈥檚 sugar beet harvest approaches, British Sugar has announced the campaign start dates for each factory.
The start dates for beet deliveries to British Sugar鈥檚 factories are:
- Newark 19th September
- Wissington 26th September
- Bury St Edmunds 5th October
- Cantley 20th October
The Bury St Edmunds and Cantley factories are opening later than in previous years as a result of exceptional climatic conditions over the summer, with these areas receiving less rainfall than the Wissington and Newark factory areas.
Yield
British Sugar says the later start dates will allow for greater yield improvement by leaving the crop in the ground longer, thereby hopefully benefitting from some much-needed rain.
East Anglian growers who are impacted and need to lift their crop before their contracted factory is open can deliver sugar beet to Wissington from 26th September. Any additional cost from this increased distance will be met by British Sugar.
Resilient
Dan Green, agriculture director, British Sugar: 鈥淲e will all be aware of the exceptionally dry conditions the whole country has been experiencing this year. Sugar beet is extremely resilient to changes in rainfall but, in common with all arable crops, the sustained climactic conditions have had an impact.
"Variances are regional, with growers in the East Midlands, around Newark, and those around Wissington experiencing more rainfall and therefore stronger growth in their crop. However, our growers in Suffolk, around Bury, and the East of Norfolk, around Cantley, have had less rainfall.
鈥淏ritish Sugar has the ability to flex our factory network and respond to conditions. We have therefore moved back the opening dates of Bury and Cantley factories by a couple of weeks. We believe these revised dates will allow for greater yield improvement by leaving the crop in the ground longer, and thereby hopefully able to benefit from some much-needed rain.鈥淲e are committed to keeping disruption to growers to a minimum. All East Anglian growers who are impacted and would like to harvest before their own contracted factory is open can deliver beet to Wissington from 26th September. Any additional cost from this increased distance will be met by British Sugar; rates will need to be agreed by British Sugar directly with the hauliers
Progress
As in previous years, British Sugar will provide growers and industry partners with regular communications as campaign progresses, including on factory performance and national crop updates.
Growers wishing to deliver beet to Wissington before their contacted factory is open must request this through their British Sugar Account Manager ahead of lifting, so that rates can be agreed with the haulier.
