British Sugar and the NFU have agreed an enhancement to the 2011 sugar beet contract that they say will benefit all growers and ‘allow them to increase their sugar beet enterprise’.

Following a review by British Sugar of the volume of crop required for 2011, an increase in price has been agreed for growers’ production of non-quota beet. This will allow growers to plant an increased area and benefit from a guaranteed and improved price for a proportion of their non-quota beet. Under the agreement, the first 20 per cent of deliveries in excess of contracts will receive a price of £21 (€25)/tonne (plus freight and late delivery allowance). This agreement covering non-quota (‘surplus’) beet is similar to those used in some Continental markets.

The improved offer is due to increased exports for non-quota sugar during 2009/10, an improved biofuel market, and revised crop yield forecasts.