Sowing date beets on average slightly later

At the start of week 16, almost 90% of the sugar beets were in the ground. A large number of regions are already ready, or still need a few percent. The expected average sowing date is therefore slightly later than average, but earlier than last year.

The average sowing date came out on April 2018, 16, which was pretty late. Despite the record early start in certain areas, the average for 2019 is slightly later than we are used to. In the south and the center of the Netherlands, most beets went into the ground in the first week of April. In the north that was 1 week later.

frost damage
25% had to be sown this week on the northern sandy and valley soils. Not all plots were in the ground in East Brabant and Limburg either. In this region, the local area has suffered some frost damage. Nationally, however, the situation was not that bad. Crust formation is therefore a bigger problem and drought also plays a role. This can cause duality.

In France, sugar beets suffered more from the night frost. There the mercury even dropped to -9 degrees Celsius last week. Not all fields survived, especially in the northeast of the country (in the Champagne region) it has been very cold.

Germany
The German arable farmers have also almost finished sowing the sugar beets. By the beginning of week 16, almost everything had been sown in the border areas. The beets are also in the ground in East Germany. In the Hanover region, about half still had to be sown, at the growers who supply Pfeifer & Langen.

There is no further report of frost damage and nothing has been sown over. Just like in the Netherlands, the average sowing date is earlier than last year, but the average sowing date is later when you compare it with multi-year data.

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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