NFU Sugar statement: Sugar beet contracts
The latest developments regarding sugar beet contracts.
NFU chief sugar adviser Ruth Digby said: “While growers may feel it is strange that we have said British Sugar cannot contract with growers at £30.67 we have done this simply because their price offer is woefully inadequate and well short of a fair price for sugar beet. We have therefore not agreed this price and they cannot offer a contract price that has not been agreed.
“It is therefore patently complete nonsense to suggest that we do not support a higher price. We have been clear for over 18 months that the price model will fail to deliver a price to get the beet grown. British Sugar have shown they acknowledge this as much themselves publicly by offering a supplement to the price for yet another contracting year. The NFU however have been clear that just £3 a tonne more is insufficient and does not represent a fair and reasonable price for sugar beet farmers.
“Growers attending the meeting at Peterborough and others writing directly to us have shown overwhelming support for the NFU continuing to negotiate on their behalf.”