THE JOYS OF SUGARBEET

Just got back from a meeting of Holt NFU who were discussing sugarbeet. My background is in arable farming so I haven't needed to be an expert on sugarbeet beyond knowing that we're being threatened by cheap Brazilian sugarbeet and that the government is threatening the industry's future by opting for huge price cuts in the price of sugarbeet when the EU changes the system in 2006. However, sugarbeet is a core part of the Norfolk farming scene, which is why I went tonight. There were about 25 local farmers there. Spent more than 5 hours in the car today. Unbelievably it took two and a half hours to get to London from Kent and then a further three and a half up to Norfolk. Tomorrow I'm visiting Holkham Parish Council.