32.700 hectares of beets sown in one week

In week 14, beet growers and contractors sowed 32.700 hectares of sugar beet. This underlines the enormous sowing capacity that is available. This concerns almost 40 percent of the acreage. In week 13, 47 percent of the acreage was already sown. This is evident from data from the Suiker Unie Bietenstats.

The European Commission assumes 84.500 hectares of sugar beet in the Netherlands. That is a growth of 20,5 percent compared to last season. According to the beet statistics 89,4 percent of this was in the ground on Monday, April 10. Good for 75.500 hectares. So a lot of work has been done in a week.

The beautiful weather
Due to the beautiful spring weather and good soil conditions, the sowing work is well ahead of 2016. At that time, approximately 14 percent of the beets had been sown in week 44. The sowing work is expected to be almost completely completed this week. The average sowing date is therefore earlier than previous years. In 2016 that was April 10, although the spread was enormous. In 2015, the average date was April 3.

Counter at 100 percent
In Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, East and South Flevoland and the Noordoostpolder, the counter is at 100 percent. With almost 75 percent, the most sown this week is on the northern valley and peat soils.

According to a forecast by the European Commission, the European beet acreage in the first year of cultivation without quota will be 1,66 million hectares. An increase of 17,3 percent. In France, the acreage increases by no less than 30 percent, to almost half a million hectares. In Germany this is 20 percent, to 359.000 hectares.

The German research agency FO Licht expects an increase of 16 percent, to 1,55 million hectares. The agency assumes 12,87 tons of sugar per hectare, which will increase European sugar production by 20 million tons. For France, they note a slightly more modest growth in area of ​​20 percent. Similar to Germany.

According to the Landwirtschaftlicher Informationsdienst Zuckerrübe (LIZ) 95 percent of all beets in our eastern neighbors were sown on 7 April. Sowing work started March 14. The earliest start since 2014, which turned out to be a great year. Most beets were sown between 28 March and 4 April.

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

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.