Beet set for sowing as growers reach accord
Agreement has been reached between Irish Sugar and the IFA, representing the country’s 3,700 sugar beet growers.
The agreement provides for a four-year transport subsidy deal, a two-year price deal, agreement on early and late delivery allowances, sugar quota management and principles with regard to the future restructuring of sugar beet contracts.
The sowing of beet is set to begin next week.
Irish Sugar and the IFA have also held talks with Iarnród Éireann to try to finalise plans for a railhead in the Carlow area.
The company, part of the Greencore group, said these issues are expected to be resolved shortly.
Irish Sugar Director of Agri-Business, Martin Ryan, said the consolidation of production in an upgraded Mallow facility had been a critical first step in a drive to secure the survival of the industry in Ireland.
He said it is imperative the Government, IFA, growers and stakeholders lobby decision-makers in Brussels on the EU sugar reform negotiations, to reduce the severity of its impact on sugar production in Ireland.
Mr Ryan said Irish Sugar would work with growers to ensure a smooth transition to an extended 120-day sugar beet processing campaign in Mallow.
IFA Sugar Beet Section chairman Jim O’Regan, who headed the beet growers’ negotiating team, said reaching agreement was difficult.
This was due to the closure of the Carlow sugar factory.
Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said she welcomed the agreement.
With regard to EU sugar regime reform, she said the next step would be the publication of formal legislative proposals by the European Commission.
