Figures soon to be released by British Sugar indicate that the 2008 campaign, just ended, has produced a new national average adjusted yield record around 66 tonnes/hectares believes Norfolk’s consultant and commentator David Bolton.

“My clients have generally broken physical records on either fields or their whole farms and at £26.10/tonne, the 2009 outlook price, they hope to do so again this year too, he notes.

Whilst others scorned the idea, David Bolton was a clear voice advising East Anglian growers to take up the 1.2 million tonnes of York and Allscott quotas. He is now encouraging selected clients to once again increase their areas and, where rotations permit, to permanently extend their contract tonnages whilst raising their ambitions for the crop.

“This year yields of 80-100 tonnes/hectare of adjusted beet have been commonly recorded. This is the result of the climate’s successful contribution – sun and water. These have complemented increasing grower skill, growing techniques, mechanisation and not least, plant breeding and Rhizomania resistance,” he says.

Can you drill your beet all before the Oxford and Cambridge boat race (29th March) this year? he asks.“Whilst poised to plant the 2009 crop this month, you should also be planning fields for 2010 and 2011 already. Particularly deliberate soil structure enhancement, pH and where available, the judicious use of turkey muck, will all have a beneficial impact. The rest must be left to nature.”

“With wheat futures valued at around £127/tonne for 2010, and the €/£ around 89 pence, growers should complete their costings objectively, not emotionally, and with due allowance for risks. With all this in mind, many will find that beet remains hard to beat!,” conclude David Bolton.