agriculture
There is too much sugar beet on the market
There are mountains of sugar beet in many fields in Bavaria – a familiar sight this time of year. However, harvests are also going well in other countries and the world market is already saturated. This has consequences.
According to preliminary estimates, the sugar beet harvest in Bavaria is average. Although the numbers in the northwest and Ingolstadt regions are somewhat worse, beet yields are at record highs in the southeast, said Benjamin Kirchberger, head of the beet department at Südzucker in Plattling. Beets around Augsburg and Plattling in particular are characterized by good sugar content. However, positive harvest results have consequences for farmers: they will have to reduce their land area by 2026.
Südzucker AG has appealed to farmers to plant fewer beets next year, Kirchberger said. This year’s harvest was good throughout Europe, for example in neighboring Poland, Belgium and France. More sugar is also entering the EU from Ukraine and through imports from other countries. Although areas across Europe are capped at around ten percent by early 2025, there is an excess supply of sugar in Europe.
Reducing the area in Bavaria by 20 to 25 percent is an effort to stabilize prices. Farmers will receive a bonus if they reduce beet cultivation in the coming season. The area of sugar beet fields in the Free State currently amounts to around 60,000 hectares.
Weather and beet diseases
Harvest usually takes place from September to mid-November. But in the northwest region, construction is not yet completely complete, Kirchberger said. Work had to be stopped repeatedly because of rain. However, the eastern region is drier. Summers that are not too hot or too dry have a positive impact.
Another factor is the beet disease Basses Richesses (SBR) and Stolbur. SBR reduces sugar content. Stolbur causes beets to become wilted and rubbery, reducing yields.
The spread of both diseases continues in Bavaria. Northern Bavaria and the areas around Ingolstadt and Regensburg were most affected. The Augsburg and Plattlinger areas in southern Bavaria were still spared from this attack.
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The so-called sugar beet campaign will now run again until the end of January. Then the root vegetables must be processed. Until then, mountains of beets will be a common sight in rural areas. They are covered with fleece to protect against frost and snow. Next March or April planting time will start again.
dpa
