EU reforms set to cost beet growers €150m - study

THE country's 3,700 beet growers stand to lose €150 million as a direct result of the European Union's sugar reforms, according to study findings published yesterday.

Deloitte Financial Advisers were commissioned by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) to assess the impact of the radical reforms on the incomes of growers.

It predicted the reforms will bring about the inevitable close-down of sugar beet growing in Ireland and in consequence will result in the loss of a valuable income flow to growers.