Anger over beet surplus

THE best sugar beet crop in 20 years has left growers looking for an outlet for mountains of surplus beet.

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.