The torrential rain in the southwest has caused havoc for the sugar beet farmers, making the harvest more challenging and resulting in unpredictable yields. Far from over, the harvest has been halted with the remaining beets still in the fields, as announced by the farmers' association. The relentless downpour has impeded the heavy machinery from reaching the fields, postponing the usual November 20th completion date.
Variety seems to be the spice of life in this year's sugar beet harvest, with yields fluctuating dramatically - from 30 tons per hectare to an impressive 100 tons per hectare. The disparity in yields can be attributed to numerous factors, such as the summer drought, divergent regional rainfall distribution, and the lingering impact of bacterial diseases like stolbur and SBR, which are plaguing some farming districts, like Schwäbisch Hall.
Availability of sugar for industrial production is a concern, given the lower sugar content observed. Depending on the region, the sugar content ranges between 12% and 18%, with Baden-Württemberg's average sitting at 16% - below its long-term average of 18%. Sugar beet serves multiple purposes, from being the raw material for sugar production at factories like Südzucker's Offenau sugar factory, to being utilized as an energy source and livestock feed.
Approximately 18,700 hectares of sugar beet were cultivated in Baden-Württemberg this year, with a grand total of over 800,000 hectares of arable land in the state. Meanwhile, difficulties in sowing winter cereals present an additional challenge for farmers due to the ongoing rain. Delays in winter wheat or barley sowing have occurred in some areas, awaiting the forecasted 'rain break' to improve the situation.
Source:
Enrichment Data: The sugar beet harvest and yields in the southwest region of Germany are influenced by a variety of factors, resulting in unpredictable yields and lower sugar content. These factors include:
- Weather Conditions:
- Heavy Rainfall: The season started exceptionally wet, making sowing challenging in some regions.
- Drought: The campaign ended with drought, which impacted the beets' development.
- Leaf Fungus:
- Damage from leaf fungus also contributed to differences in and between the fields.
- Field Conditions:
- The uneven development of the beets across fields resulted from the wet start and subsequent drought.
- Mechanization Challenges:
- While mechanization has improved in sugar beet cultivation, challenges associated with densely grown beets have persisted, making mechanical cultivation more complex.
These factors collectively contributed to the lower average sugar yield of 12.2 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than the five-year average of 13.8 tonnes per hectare.
