Heavy snow could affect crop deliveries

Despite the weather over Christmas and New Year, British Sugar reports no significant logistical difficulties in the sugar beet campaign to date.

The company’s agricultural development manager, Robin Limb, says all factories are running to requirement, with deliveries continuing to be made without too many interruptions in the current cold and often snow-bound conditions.

“We can handle frosts like this and the forecast shows no sign of a significant swing in temperature (which can lead to beet becoming vulnerable to bacteria), but there is a request for growers not to lift frozen beet unless it is scheduled to be delivered direct to the factory,” he says.

“Growers are having to pick and choose fields they can harvest but generally supply to the factories is running well.

“As the disruptive weather continues, however, we’ll be monitoring the situation,” he says.

According to Mark Smith of Saxon Agriculture, the bad weather came at a quiet time in terms of grain movement in the UK (over the festive period) but the acid test would come in the next two weeks.

“Volumes to various mills and ports will certainly increase next week and continued poor weather could put pressure on the system then,” he says.

Jim Hotchin, director of operations for Openfield, says it was a credit to hauliers, who had so far managed very well in the bad weather.

“They’ve done a good job so far in difficult conditions and, while all loads haven’t made it on time, most have got there.”

In Scotland, however, the severe cold weather has restricted seed potato movement, and movement of ware stocks within and out of Scotland is also expected to be limited this week.

Chip shop trade is slow because of the icy roads and many farmers are reluctant to open stores in the freezing weather, says the Potato Council.

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