With Christmas approaching, sugar beet processor Cosun is warning of potential winter hazards. Besides several nights with subzero temperatures, the wind is also expected to pick up considerably. By covering beet piles properly and promptly, not only will the temperature inside the pile be better maintained, but the plastic will also be more firmly secured, according to the sugar processor. Furthermore, some of the sugar beets have not yet been harvested.
A farming saying goes: "There's no better place to store sugar beets than in the ground." Reports from Cosun indicate that there are currently approximately 2.500 hectares of sugar beets in the ground nationwide. According to the sugar processor, it's important to avoid risks and harvest these beets before the first frost. Experience shows that beets that still need to be harvested and have already suffered minor frost damage are particularly vulnerable and harder to harvest during a second frost.
Frozen beets are lost beets
According to Cosun, no beets with frost damage will be loaded. If harvesting the beets before the frost is not possible, the IRS advises against harvesting if there is a possibility of frost damage. Frost damage can be recognized by yellowish or glassy tissue instead of the usual white tissue. "If no further frost is expected in the near future, it is better to let the frost settle in the beets before harvesting and placing them on the pile," says the IRS.
The IRS also emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring temperatures in the coming days. A layer of Toptex or fleece on its own doesn't offer sufficient protection against frost. "At temperatures down to about -6°C, a layer of agricultural plastic, or a combination of fleece and Jupettes, is usually sufficient," the organization adds.
Campaign progress
For the first time this campaign, the national sugar content fell below 17% last week. At 16,9%, it is still higher than the same period last year. It is striking that the beets delivered in Schouwen-Duiveland last week still had a sugar content of 18%. At the same time, there are already regions where the sugar content is considerably lower. For example, farmers in the Graafschap/Achterhoek and Utrecht Oost/Veluwe regions delivered beets last week with sugar content of 15,5 and 15,8%, respectively.
The tare percentage has also been consistently above 11% in recent weeks. With a national average of 11,2% tare, last week was no different. Regions that stand out negatively are mainly those with heavier clay soils. For example, last week in the Kop van Zuid-Holland region, beets were delivered with a tare percentage of 16%. In Southern Flevoland, the tare percentage was slightly lower, at 14,5%, but that remains at the higher end of last week's deliveries. The tare percentage is notable not only in the Netherlands, but also just across the border in Germany. In the Groningen FRG region, beets were delivered last week with a tare percentage of 15,1%.