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.

Working demonstrations of different types of harvesters, storage clamps and cleaner loaders will take place.

Teagasc researchers will detail production measures to reduce tare levels.

They will advise on timing of harvest for storage, suitable storage and handling facilities and minimising sugar loss during storage.

Dr Jimmy Burke, head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre at Oak Park, said the event will address the issue of reducing soil tare during harvesting, storage, handling and delivery of sugar beet this year.

He said the €1.25m per year cost in the delivery of unwanted material is not covered by freight subsidies.

Martin Ryan, Director of Agribusiness with Greencore Sugar, said the average amount of soil, stones, and other foreign matter delivered by growers to the factories has been roughly 140,000 tonnes.