British Sugar announces start dates for 2023/24 sugar beet campaign

Opening dates announced

The first of British Sugar’s four factories to open for deliveries is in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, on Monday 4th September.

Following this, the site at Newark in Nottingham will open on the 11th September, and British Sugar’s largest sugar processing site at Wissington, Norfolk, will open on 21st September.

The final factory to open its doors for deliveries is in Cantley, Norwich, which will accept sugar beet from the 9th October.

British Sugar agriculture director Dan Green had this to say about the opening of the sugar beet harvest, “We look forward to working with growers, harvesters and hauliers over the 2023/24 season, and wish everyone across the British beet sugar industry all the best for a safe and successful campaign.”

Sugar beet growers, hauliers and industry partners have been advised of beet intake times at the factories by email and via the online portal, My British Sugar.

Beet price agreed for 2023/24 sugar beet contract

In June 2023, NFU Sugar and British Sugar announced a beet price of £40 per tonne for the 2023/24 sugar beet contract year, which represents a 48% price increase on last year.

The offer also includes several new options for growers to consider as part of the contract:

• Growers have the choice to purchase a yield guarantee product that protects income against yield losses.
• A ‘futures-linked’ variable price contract for the 2023/24 crop which enables growers to make more dynamic pricing decisions for up to 20% of their contracts.
• Growers within 20 miles of any British Sugar factory will receive a local premium of up to £2, based on distance to the factory.
• Revised multi-year prices – all growers with an existing 2023 commitment will automatically receive an upgrade to £32/t, from £25/t. Growers can upgrade this further to £40/t if they commit to grow sugar beet in 2024.
• The option of a cash advance.

NFU Sugar board chair Michael Sly said: “With growers facing significant cost increases, and the prices of alternative crops having risen to unprecedented levels, I am glad we agreed on a contract offer that should keep sugar beet as a valued part of growers’ rotations. I am hopeful this deal gives the opportunity for re-investment into the sugar beet sector and provides confidence for the future.”

Commenting on the new contract, Paul Kenward, managing director, British Sugar, said: “I am very positive about the future for everyone within this fantastic homegrown industry. With UK customers keen to buy from British Sugar, we are really well-placed to partner with growers for the long-term, and I am certain this contract will encourage further investment going forward. We have four well-invested factories, a great product and an exciting story to share. Our growers are a key part of our business and I hope that this offer provides an incentive for them to continue growing next season and beyond.”

Get in touch

We expect to see much activity for those growing sugar beet during the coming weeks as British Sugar continues to open its doors. If you are currently harvesting sugar beet, or on the way to delivering your beet to a factory we’d love to speak with you. Please email editor@farmersguide.co.uk.