News Sugar beets
Beet tourism continues to occupy growers
Suiker Unie started the cultivation meetings for their growers in week 50. One of the most discussed topics is the so-called 'beet tourism'. This year the cooperative provided clarity and rules in this area, but is this in line with the needs of the beet growers?
During the first cultivation meeting of the season, which was organized in Dronten, there was much talk about beet tourism and the choices that Suiker Unie has made in this regard. Is it more alive in Flevoland than elsewhere in the Netherlands?
Phenomenon in Flevoland
Gert Sikken, agricultural director of Suiker Unie, does not dare to make any firm statements about this: "I can follow the reasoning. Flevoland has good soil, on which many alternative crops are possible. It is a reason for growers to sow sharply. Moreover, yields are often very good, even in this exceptional year, but beet tourism is still practiced nationwide."
Sikken does not want to go so far as to talk about a vigorous discussion. "A number of people have questions. The most common reaction is that they think the policy is too strict. However, I have to be careful, because we have only just started the national meetings. All questions will be included in the evaluation, it is still too early to draw conclusions from this."
Rules for beet tourism
Until this season, the shifting of sugar (beet) loads between 2 growers took place in the shadow of the cooperative. That has changed, because Suiker Unie has gone facilitate† Requirements are set for this. For example, the grower must at least be able to meet his delivery obligation (measured over 5 years); Sowing too sharply and buying additional loads is not an option. In addition, when you indicate the loading location, it must be stated early on whether you want to participate in beet tourism.
That is the bottleneck for growers. It is only during the harvest that they find out that 1 load of beets has been harvested too little. Certainly if the neighbor does have sufficient surplus beets (c-sugar), it is sour if it is not possible at that time to transfer a load from grower to grower.
The reason for these rules has nothing to do with the traceability of the product. "If a grower makes incorrect use of the situation, he will receive a member bonus for beets that he has not grown himself. The cooperative has difficulty with that," says Sikken. "It is at the expense of the collective. For this reason, the administrators have intervened and set rules. Anyone who has sown enough may make use of the scheme. It is estimated that 65% to 70% of the members qualify for this."
Delivery obligation exemption
In the magazine of Cosun, chairman Dirk de Lugt says that 365 growers have sowed too little this year (based on their delivery obligation). They must apply for an exemption. Sikken emphasizes that this group may not be able to meet the delivery obligation. The group represents about 4% of the total membership. "The number of growers who deliver too little may be a few dozen," he says. "It is certainly not about hundreds of companies, but about the risk category. Only these growers risk a fine."
In the same foreword, De Lugt announces that the delivery obligation will not be increased in 2019. In November, the cooperative adjusted the allocation for the coming season from 95% to 100%. Realizing that the construction plan for some companies has already been determined, it has been decided not to tinker with the delivery obligation. This is determined pro rata; that is usually 85% delivery obligation with 100% allocation. For 2019, the delivery obligation is 80,75%.
Shopping or growing
Anyone who wants to make use of beet tourism must meet the 95% allocation this year. Sikken cannot yet say whether the reduced delivery obligation will reduce the share of growers who sow too sharply. "We think there are a small number of growers who consciously 'shop' during the season to buy beets," he says.
"That is a working method that the cooperative is not positive about. Renting land for beet cultivation (and reporting this to Cosun in advance) is one of the options. The grower must declare this area and is, of course, also responsible for the cultivation and Cultivation registration. Even if the plots are in a different region and the cultivation is carried out as contract work. The owner of the Member Delivery Certificates (LLB) is ultimately responsible for specifying the acreage and loading locations. We are not involved in his further lease."
Suiker Unie is only strict on growers who deliberately sow sharply and thereby endanger their delivery obligation. If the yield is significantly lower due to weather extremes, then it is a different story. That is why Suiker Unie issued a 'general pardon' this summer, when it turned out that the yield (due to drought) was going to be considerably lower. According to the recent schedule, the sugar yield will end at 13,2 tons per hectare, compared to an earlier estimate of 14,3 tons per hectare.
Niels van der Boom
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