Experiences of the 1992 sugar beet growing season
1993
Domonkosi, I. (Matracukor Rt. (Hungary))
Because of the 1991 overproduction crisis the sugar factories suggested a limitation of production in 1992. The 1992 sugar consumption was estimated to be 380-400 thousand tons. To produce this amount 3 040-3 360 thousand tons of sugar beet that is 90-95 thousand hectares was necessary. Unlike earlier, in 1992 sugar factories made contracts for beet or biological sugar and not for acrage. It meant a share of production risks between growers and processors. Finally contracts were made for 4 305 298 tons of sugar beet. Spring came late and there was a lack of water in the ground. As a result of this situation by June the sugar beet fields were very heterogeneous. The drought was serious during the whole season so finally the sugar factories could buy only 2 782 247 tons of sugar beet. The average yield was 28.9 t/ha which is below the break-even yield of 32t/ha. Despite of the drought it seems that the problem is more technological than economical since there were significant differences (more than 10t/ha) between growers in the same area. Especially the importance of the even plant density and the preventive plant protection have been neglected. In the beginning of the harvest dry soils caused harvesting loss, later a lot of rain hindered the continuous harvest. Two factories had to stop the processing after a few days because of lack of basic material. It turned out that the self-restriction to alleviate the overproduction crisis was too successful. A critical analysis of data is necessary if enough sugar beet is to be produced for the domestic market
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