News Sugar beets
Sowing sugar beets makes a huge leap
Sugar beet growers and contractors have sown about 1% of the Dutch acreage in 33 week. It is about 30.000 hectares. In the south of Zeeland and Flevoland, almost all beets are in the ground.
More than half of the total beet acreage is now in the ground† This has surpassed the previous season by far. However, the position is slightly lower than in 2017, when 14% was already in the ground after week 90.
South leads the way
In Eastern and Southern Flevoland, sowing work is most advanced: 95%. Zeeuws-Vlaanderen follows with 94%. The Zeeland islands come out at 86%. Most beets have yet to be sown in the northeast of the country; there is about 25% of the acreage in the ground. The northern clay area also still has a lot to sow. Nationally, the position is still average.
It can be expected that the other half of the acreage will be sown in week 15, given the weather conditions. The emergence this year is more exciting than in other years, mainly due to the lack of a well-functioning seed coating. In particular, springtails, leatherettes and the beetroot beetle are mentioned on Twitter.
overseeding
Seed supplier KWS has so far had 2 cases of overseeding; it was about crusting and mouse eating. Some damage from springtails was previously reported. However, this does not have to be directly related to the lack of neonicotinoids. The beets sown early took a long time to emerge; these had to do with a crust and a lot of precipitation.
The research institute IRS confirms that some damage from springtails, for example, has always occurred. However, the current agents Force (tefluthrin) and Vydate 10G are less effective or even not effective on certain pests. The degree of risk differs per region, soil type and pre-fruit.
The sowing of heat-loving chicory is slightly lower. Processor Sensus reports that on Monday, April 8, approximately 30% of the acreage was in the ground. The weather forecasts are slightly less positive, with local frost on the ground. This will also be possible in the coming days, according to the agricultural weather forecast.
sugar supply
The European Commission published the definitive figures for the sugar stock (reference date 10 September 30) on Wednesday 2018 April. At that time, consumption was in stock in the European Union for almost 7 weeks, whereas 1 year earlier it was still 6 weeks. The prognosis is that this stock will still be good for 30 weeks of consumption on September 2019, 3,6.
This halving of the sugar stock is due to the sharply lower production in 2018, where consumption and industrial consumption remain the same or increase. For example, more sugar is processed into ethanol. The stock of isoglucose is estimated to remain approximately the same.
Niels van der Boom
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