Beet campaign starts but not without dispute
The commencement date of the campaign is at least a full week later than normal, after an agreement was struck between the IFA and the sugar company. According to Mr French, probably 80% of the crop is looking “reasonable”.
Most farmers believed this year’s crop could do with extra time to help it mature.
But he hoped that the campaign would be finished by Christmas.
According to Mr French, the dispute between the Beet Hauliers Association and farmers is still on-going.
Speaking this week, Mr French hoped that the issue would be resolved as soon as possible.
He claimed that while there was a bit of a misunderstanding, the hauliers did get an 8% increase two years ago, contrary to reports that they had not received an increase for 10 years.
Coupled with this, Mr French added that recently farmers have offered hauliers a 2% further increase that was to stand for three years but they have rejected this and that is where the situation stands He added that while hauliers talk about increased costs, sugar beet growers have also seen increases in their costs, but they were open to negotiation.
