Euro plans may stifle beet growers

Proposals in a leaked European Commission document on the reform of the sugar sector would drive Irish beet growers out of business, the IFA has warned.

Sugar beet section chairman Jim O'Regan said the proposals provide for beet price cuts of 25% in 2005 and 2006 and a 37% cut in 2007, along with a European quota reduction of 2.8m tonnes or 16%.

"Farmers are rejecting these price and quota cuts as totally unsustainable.