Sugar Beet News

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The British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) has announced new and withdrawn varieties on the sugar beet list, bringing it to a total of 22 varieties for 2025.

Experts from Ceres Rural, British Sugar and De Sangosse discussed the prospects for sugar beet this season and recommendations for herbicide programmes in a webinar hosted by UPL.

British Sugar has committed to covering 75% of farmers’ diversion costs following a difficult harvest. 

British Sugar has just released new end dates for each of its factory sites, extending the deadline for farmers whose beet is still in the ground. 

Following the emergency approval granting sugar beet growers to use Cruiser SB for virus yellows control, the threshold for use has now been met. The prohibited neonicotinoid will be available for seed in the 2024/25 sugar beet campaign. 

With wet ground hampering the lifting of sugar beet throughout the 2023/24 campaign, and beet still in the ground, British Sugar has announced new expected end dates for each of its factory sites.

Effective early season weed control in sugar beet is essential, explains Adama UK herbicides technical specialist, Dr Bill Lankford – especially as an effective herbicide programme can deliver a 10–20% improvement in yield.