Lower beet yields in UK and Belgium

British Sugar expects the sugar beet harvest this autumn to be considerably lower than last year. The harvest will also start later. The same applies to the harvest and yields in Belgium. In the Netherlands, the first beets have now been received by Suiker Unie.

The approximately 3.500 beet growers in the United Kingdom (UK) expect the harvest to be well below last year's level. Then the harvest amounted to almost 9 million tons. The sugar beet acreage in the UK will remain about the same (105.000 hectares), but the drought is causing lower yields. 

The beet campaign in the UK will start soon. Last year it started 1 week earlier, because of the large harvest. This year, the start has been slightly delayed, in order to give the crops more time to gain weight.

Belgium shows the same
Yields in Belgium are also considerably lower, according to trial grubbing-ups by the Royal Belgian Institute for the Improvement of the Beetroot (RBINS). At the beginning of September, there were almost 75 tons per hectare under the plants, compared to more than 2017 tons in the same period in 90.

Not only are the kilos considerably lower, but the sugar content is also lower. In 2018, the sugar content is 15,81%, compared to 2017% in 16,17. However, the differences between the regions are large.

Campaign launched in the Netherlands
The beet campaign has already started in the Netherlands. The first beets for 2018 have therefore been received by Suiker Unie. The processor expects to process 7,3 million tons of beets this season.

Boerenbusiness organizes a seminar on Friday 14 September at the AgroTechniek Holland, as the conclusion of the Crop Tour. In the seminar an analysis is given of the growing season, the price development and a forecast of the yield is presented. Sign up here for this free seminar and receive your admission ticket.

Anne-Jan Doorn

Anne Jan Doorn is an arable expert at Boerenbusiness. He writes about the various arable farming markets and also focuses on the land and energy market.

aj.doorn@boerenbusiness. Nl

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