downloads - Nordzucker AG

Not a record year
In almost all of Nordzucker’s growing
areas, beet was sown later in
2013 than in previous years. How
big is the actual “delay”?
Dr. Pörksen: Across the Group, beet
seed was sowed between two and three
weeks later this year than in the previous
year. However, when compared
with the five-year average, we are only
an average of ten days late. There was
a late spring in all growing countries,
which was particularly pronounced in
Germany and Finland, where beet sowings
were completed on average three
weeks later than in 2012.
What is the current situation in the
beet fields? Do you see any chance
for stocks to make up lost ground?
Dr. Pörksen: Definitely not. The delay
can no longer be recovered. Persistently
cold weather, a lot of rain and not
enough sunshine meant that the crops
persisted for too long in the two-leaf
and four-leaf stage. This was compounded
by growth delays brought on by the
outstanding effect of herbicides on the
moist soil during 2013. Moreover, many
of our growers in Germany had to deal
with heavy rainfall at the end of May,
including some flooded fields and siltation.
Fortunately, there were not many
cases of complete losses. Nevertheless,
beet growth has been impacted by
extremely warm, sunny weather conditions
with sufficient rainfall, which
meant it was also possible to partially
compensate for the late sowing here
and, as in Sweden, to achieve stock
levels on a par with the five-year average.
In Poland and Slovakia, warm
weather conditions following sowing
together with sufficiently moist soil conditions
and regular rainfall ensured rapid
field emergence and good development
of crops. Growth here was also slowed
by a cold snap in the latter part of May.
these additional factors in many of these
areas.
From today’s perspective, what
does this mean for the 2013 beet
harvest and campaign?
Dr. Pörksen: It is clear that this beet year
will not be a record year. Nordzucker
will process a significantly smaller beet
harvest. If everything goes well, we will
achieve maximum yields on a par with
the five-year average. The decision as
to when we will begin processing the
beets will depend on the results of the
lifting tests in August. What I can say is
that, from today’s perspective, I do not
see any reason to start the campaign
early.
Interview by Susanne Dismer-Puls
Overall, stock levels in both countries
are healthy. Approximately half of the
areas sowed saw row closure by 10
June, with the remaining areas following
around ten days later.
Harvest outlook: about average
Overall, beet development in Germany
and Denmark at the end of June points
to a generally below-average beet year
in 2013. Nordzucker expects average
yields in Sweden, Finland and Lithuania,
and solidly average yields in Eastern
Europe.
sdp
The amount of
beet to be processed
will be
much smaller in
this campaign.
Nordzucker tests yield
potential of the paper
pot method
Early sowing and a long period of
growth are the keys to success for sugar
beet cultivation. The longer the frostsensitive
beet can grow, the greater the
chances are of achieving above-average
yields. To what extent can the yield be
increased through longer growth periods
made possible by using young beet
plants grown in advance? Nordzucker
investigates this question as part of its
20 · 20 · 20 initiative in a field trial in
Schleswig-Holstein.
Eight-week head start
In Kronprinzenkoog in Dithmarschen,
around 7,000 young beet plants were
transferred from the greenhouse on
10 April 2013. The plants were transferred
using a cabbage transplanter by
the farmers Björn Göser and Hans-Reimer
Thießen and have a growth advantage
of up to eight weeks over the sugar beet
usually drilled in Schleswig-Holstein.
The plants were sown early in the
greenhouse in paper pots on 19 and
26 February. The paper pots are around
15-centimetre-high containers made
from paper that dissolve in the soil.
sdp
Akzente July 2013 13