Sugar beet market and market requirements

Sucrose from sugar beets is the principal use.

Markets

Human food

Sugar beets contain from 13 to 22% sucrose. Sucrose is used widely as a pure high energy food or food additive. High fibre dietary food additives are manufactured from the sugar beet processing by product – sugar beet pulp.

Livestock feed

Sugar beet pulp and molasses are processing by-products widely used as feed supplements for livestock. These products provide the fibre in rations and increase the palatability of feeds. Sugar beet tops (leaf) can be used for livestock feed. Sheep and cattle can be allowed to graze beet fields in the autumn to utilize tops. The cattle and sheep will also eat small beets left in the field after harvest. Tops are an excellent source of protein, vitamin A, and carbohydrates.

Industrial uses

The molasses by-product from sugar beet processing are used widely in the alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and yeast industries. Waste lime from the processing of sugar beets is an excellent soil amendment to increase soil pH levels as well as containing P & K plant nutrients. Treated processing waste water also may be used for irrigation. In some areas sugar beet is now being used in bioethanol production facilities.

Market requirements

Sugar beet quality is dependent on the sucrose content in the roots and the level of impurities that must be removed during sugar refining. Production of high quality sugar is especially important to growers who are paid based on extractable sugar delivered to the factories. Correct nitrogen fertilizer use increases root and sugar yield. However, excessive nitrogen can increase impurities and decrease sugar content and sugar extractability.

On delivery to a sugar beet factory the following parameters will be checked:

  • soil tare - the amount of non beet delivered
  • crown tare - the amount of low-sugar beet delivered
  • sugar content - amount of sucrose in the crop
  • nitrogen content – to help guide future fertilizer use.

Aspects that can influence recovery of the sugar are:

  • Excess Sodium and Potassium in the roots.
  • High levels of amino N and amides (such as glutamine and betaine).
  • A balanced fertilizer program should be used to avoid such issues.