The 2021/22 campaign is expected to deliver average sugar beet yields in excess of 80 t/ha, a significant increase on 2020, due to ongoing developments in seed technology and genetics, a good growing season, and near-perfect conditions for crop recovery. “The 2021 sugar beet crop started with a delayed drilling window followed by a prolonged cold weather front delaying establishment, but it has shown great resilience,” said Andrew Dear, Head of Agriculture (Bury and Cantley) and National Seed Manager. “When we reached June the weather warmed up and the crop motored all the way through the summer.” “We’re seeing good root weights and as we move through campaign, particularly in the past few weeks of harvest, the sugar percentages are continuing to rise,” explains Andrew. “This is mainly due to the mild weather; and we haven’t had rain in excess, which has led to good growing conditions.” Lifting conditions have been good, too. “We have had almost perfect harvesting conditions, which means the crop recovery is a lot better,” he adds. British Sugar is expecting this year’s crop to reach around 80t/ha. “It’s looking really promising at the moment with a reversion to normal yields,” said Andrew.