Teagasc Advice on Beet Harvesting and Storage
Issued 28thNovember 2001
With the continuing uncertainty about delivery of sugar beet to the Carlow and Mallow factories, Dr Jimmy Burke of the Teagasc Research Centre at Oak Park, Carlow has issued the following advice on harvesting and storage.
He said that while the inclination of growers is to defer the harvesting of beet until the current problems have been overcome, a long delay in harvesting could lead to losses in sugar yield, higher field losses and increased soil damage. A better option for most growers would be to continue harvesting and to place high priority on proper storage procedures.
Dr Burke stressed that so far the losses in storage have been negligible and future losses can be kept to a minimum if rigid guidelines are followed.
"In order to minimise storage losses, beet must be clean and damage levels must be kept to a minimum. Also, the beet should be crowned more severely than if being delivered directly to the factory. Beet should be kept as cool as possible and should be covered during frost", he said
He said a clamp of around 4 metres wide and 3metres high with sloped sides is very effective at keeping beet cool. A flat-topped heap is more likely to heat and, therefore, the height should not exceed 1.5 metres.
He said an open hay-barn is an ideal storage area. Also, ventilated stores for grain or potatoes are excellent for storing beet. In these situations, beet can be stored as high as the loading equipment will reach.
