Beet clamps/heaps

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
How long would you dare to leave beet in a clamp?

Been told the factories are likely to stay open till March. Problem is I’ve got two fields left that I’d like wheat drilled before Christmas.

Normally harvest and drill all the beet up by the first couple of weeks in December. And they seem ok in the clamp till end Jan/early feb.

If we do get them up I think they’ll be very clean as it’s be so dry up to now. So I don’t think (if we’re very careful) that pushing them up and putting in a clamp that they should heat up too much.

Always level them off too, with round bales around the outside, so some air can get into them.

Thoughts?
 

robbie

Member
BASIS
I heard the same about wissy a few weeks ago.

I'm remaining sceptical because the weekly factory report has % contract delivered at 45% already, are they going to have beet available into March. I know everyone's having a good harvest and most will be 110-120% of contract but even so that only takes things to mid Feb.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Can you talk to your haulier to see what permits he has? Mine used to also serve lots of Norfolk growers who were happy to lift after Christmas so we used their permits for early lifting heavy land (to Wissington). I'd have beet in the heap from early December until mid January without too many issues as long as it could breathe. A mild winter might make it sweat a bit & the last few loads were a bit manky.

Put some sheets around the bottom if it turns frosty but try to leave some air gaps so the heap can draw cold air in. With square bales I put pallets underneath. The worst frosted beets were if I had low pockets next to the bales where cold air could settle & be drawn into the heap.
 
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Breckland Boy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Breckland
What percentage of your crop have you delivered?
The heavy land growers always get favourable treatment in years when the yield is high. All their beet get lifted and then they shout and holler that they are spoiling in the clamp. So BS accept them as a priority.
I haven't delivered any beet yet and fear being bumped to the back of the queue and end up delivering very late in the campaign. If that happens I lose out badly as the drop in sugar % isn't off set by late payment bonuses.
Please deliver your contract tonnage and then wait until the remaining growers get their contract tonnage delivered. Only then should excess tonnage be delivered.
 

nick...

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
south norfolk
I'd imagine the sugars would go down if clamped for a while.needs to be pretty cold aswell for longish storage.bloody annoying that hauliers have you by the balls.when I grew beet the hauliers pretty much dictated when they would take the beet which really pee'd me of.would probably been different if I was a big grower
Nick...
 

Farmer T

Member
Location
East Midlands
I heard the same about wissy a few weeks ago.

I'm remaining sceptical because the weekly factory report has % contract delivered at 45% already, are they going to have beet available into March. I know everyone's having a good harvest and most will be 110-120% of contract but even so that only takes things to mid Feb.

The campaign will be carry on until the end of March and I wouldn't be surprised if beet is delivered in April this year.
 

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
I'd imagine the sugars would go down if clamped for a while.needs to be pretty cold aswell for longish storage.bloody annoying that hauliers have you by the balls.when I grew beet the hauliers pretty much dictated when they would take the beet which really pee'd me of.would probably been different if I was a big grower
Nick...
Depends on your haulier Nick.
Not every haulier the same.
 

robbie

Member
BASIS
I'd imagine the sugars would go down if clamped for a while.needs to be pretty cold aswell for longish storage.bloody annoying that hauliers have you by the balls.when I grew beet the hauliers pretty much dictated when they would take the beet which really pee'd me of.would probably been different if I was a big grower
Nick...

Depends on your haulier Nick.
Not every haulier the same.
Very true. that used to be the case with us, the haulier(who done a very good job) would dictate when he would cart a certain amount of beet and that would be it till he was next in the area, our new man seems to be much more flexible and willing to work with us.

It's not always about being a big grower, sometimes it's about having a smaller haulier. Big isn't always beautiful.
 

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
The campaign will be carry on until the end of March and I wouldn't be surprised if beet is delivered in April this year.

Soon be getting a cross over of crops!

I wonder if they’re hoping they get a certain percent frosted? Then they won’t have to take it nor pay out for it. What is the insurance worth? The full price for beet list?Or a percentage?
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Soon be getting a cross over of crops!

I wonder if they’re hoping they get a certain percent frosted? Then they won’t have to take it nor pay out for it. What is the insurance worth? The full price for beet list?Or a percentage?
Something about 50% sticks in my mind. They send you a paper copy. They probably are hoping that will happen.
 

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
What percentage of your crop have you delivered?
The heavy land growers always get favourable treatment in years when the yield is high. All their beet get lifted and then they shout and holler that they are spoiling in the clamp. So BS accept them as a priority.
I haven't delivered any beet yet and fear being bumped to the back of the queue and end up delivering very late in the campaign. If that happens I lose out badly as the drop in sugar % isn't off set by late payment bonuses.
Please deliver your contract tonnage and then wait until the remaining growers get their contract tonnage delivered. Only then should excess tonnage be delivered.

Up until yesterday about 20%. My haulier always finds it hard to get permits. Keeps being promised more but gets less! He has two trucks and mostly only runs one.
 

Sonoftheheir

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
West Suffolk
Something about 50% sticks in my mind. They send you a paper copy. They probably are hoping that will happen.

I’d still rather take the loss in the heap I think. We got away fairly lightly the year when a lot were lost to frost, but it was touch and go whether they would take them.

We’ve also been spoilt for weather so far this harvest season, wouldn’t take long for it to turn to sh*t and everyone fall out of their comfort zones.

I know it’s not the best and I wish they would take them in sooner, but have to take a calculated risk on this one.
 

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