Sugar Beet

As the sugar beet campaign for 2024/25 officially launched this week, some beet growers have already started this year’s harvest, and completed deliveries into Bury and Wissington.

1.5 tonnes of sugar pulp have caught fire at the British Sugar factory in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. 

As agricultural machines begin transporting root crops, industry groups have come together for a new campaign to ensure trailer safety.

Bury St Edmunds and Wissington factories have officially opened and are ready for beet intake as the sugar beet campaign for 2024/25 begins. 

Reforms to the UK sugar beet seed model will give growers more choice and flexibility, allowing earlier uptake of new genetics and increase choice for growers.

As this year’s sugar beet harvest approaches, British Sugar has just shared details of the campaign start dates for each of its four factories.  

British Sugar and NFU Sugar say they have concluded negotiations and agreed a deal for the 2025/26 sugar beet contract.

Changes to the UK sugar beet seed model that were announced last week have been warmly welcomed by breeder, SESVanderHave.

NFU Sugar and British Sugar have just announced reforms to the UK sugar beet seed model, which will give growers more choice and flexibility, support innovation and address recurring issues with growers’ access to seed while preserving the most effective parts of the existing model. 

The 2023/24 sugar beet campaign finally concluded, later than usual, with the Cantley factory slicing the last sugar beet of the campaign on Friday 19th April.

With a lot of uncertainty this spring, a Suffolk sugar beet grower who hasn’t opted for Cruiser-treated seed is nervous about aphids but has confidence in his variety choice.

The British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) has announced new and withdrawn varieties on the sugar beet list, bringing it to a total of 22 varieties for 2025.