Anger over beet surplus
Farmers in Co Waterford have taken out their frustration on the IFA sugar beet section, blaming it for “going soft” on Irish Sugar PLC, which has told growers it will not take surplus beet this year.
Previously, growers had the option of sending surplus beet to factories, where it would be processed and the sugar sold at the world market prices.
The IFA’s sugar beet section came in for further criticism for not replying in public to Irish Sugar MD David Dilger’s suggestion that growers take a beet price cut due to impending reform of the EU sugar industry. The section was also accused of failing to negotiate carbon credits for sugar beet growers.
Growers at an IFA meeting at Tallow, Co Waterford, maintained that sugar beet’s high uptake of carbon dioxide was a strong negotiating point for maintaining EU sugar beet production.
