We have seed available, say sugar beet breeders

• Confusion over sugar beet supplies

• Growers can purchase seed direct

• British Sugar will release more soon

Sugar beet breeders say they have plenty of seed available for the coming season – despite British Sugar describing some varieties as “currently sold out”.

Confusion over seed availability follows changes to the UK sugar beet seed model – the route through which British Sugar sells seed to growers. Under the reforms, growers can now purchase seed direct from breeders, not just from British Sugar.

The move gives farmers more choice and flexibility in the varieties they grow and treatments they can access, rather than having to buy exclusively from the UK Seed Account, which is operated by British Sugar and overseen by NFU Sugar.

British Sugar has also changed the way it sells seed, releasing stocks throughout the year rather than in one go. It says this means growers can buy when the time is right for them.

That said, some growers have reported that seed from British Sugar is extremely limited. This includes regular seed as well as reports that British Sugar has sold out of beet cyst nematode (BCN) tolerant varieties.

But sugar beet breeder SESVanderHave – the company behind BCN variety Hoopoe, as well as Wren, Gadwall and Osprey – has stocks of 2024 harvested seed reserved for UK growers. It says it is exclusively supplying this seed direct and via the Anglia Farmers buying group.

“With excellent yields being reported for our new high yielding BCN variety Hoopoe in the presence and absence of BCN, we still have some stock,” says SESVanderHave’s Ian Munnery (pictured top right).

“Varieties are now added to the APHA Variety List earlier, so we produced more seed in anticipation of this – ensuring UK growers and British Sugar reap the rewards sooner.”

“Jackdaw (BCN), which British Sugar purchased for growers last year, is also delivering exceptional yields – a testament to the excellent seed quality.”

Anyone wavering on signing a contract to grow sugar beet because they cannot access BCN or other seed should contact the team at SESVanderHave or Anglia Farmers to secure their stocks, says Mr Munnery.

In a joint statement, British Sugar and NFU Sugar said that although some varieties were displayed as “currently sold out”, further seed would be released for sale within in the next few months.

“We will receive updates from breeders in the coming weeks as their final production volumes are confirmed. Provided the production numbers we receive remain above the volume sold so far, we will release additional stocks.

“By January we will have clarity on final production volumes and processing out-turn. We will therefore offer all remaining supplies of each variety up to these exact production numbers.

“As such, unless the yield or quality of the seed harvest falls far short of initial estimates from breeders, we expect to have further volumes to sell, including those displaying as ‘currently sold out’. We will give notice ahead of additional seed releases.”

Compared to selling seed in one single release, British Sugar and NFU Sugar say this reduces the risk of substitutions and allows the industry to benefit from obtaining as much of the most popular varieties as possible.

As well as buying via the UK Seed Account, growers can also purchase KWS Smart seed from one of the breeder’s preferred distributors. SESVanderHave and Hilleshog varieties are available directly from SESVanderHave or from an agent.