Beet wastage costs farmers €1.25m

THE average amount of soil, stones and other foreign matter delivered by sugar beet growers to factories is about 10% of gross tonnage and costs farmers an average of €1.25 million each year.

Greencore Sugar said that this year, faced with the prospect of longer distance travel to Mallow, following the closure of the Carlow Sugar factory and increased haulage costs, growers need to reduce this waste content to avoid extra costs.

Teagasc Crops Research Centre is holding an information and demonstration day in Carlow today to advise growers on how to minimise their costs in this area.