Drought in Southern Russia delays sugar beet harvesting, foreshadows excess processing into molasses, but there is hope for rain.

The expected drought in the southern part of the Russian Federation has led to a delay in the process of harvesting sugar beets. As of July 23, the water deficit in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions is about 50% compared to the average annual indicators. The projected yield in some areas where sugar beets are grown is approximately 320 tons per hectare. The sugar content in sugar beets is 19%, exceeding the capabilities of technological sugar extraction, resulting in a significant amount of sugar being processed into molasses.

If there were rains, it could improve the situation. The weather forecast for the next 2 weeks shows different amounts of precipitation, from 1-2 mm for some factories to 27 mm at the Leningrad sugar plant.

However, as known, weather forecasts beyond a couple of days have an accuracy level of only 50% and may either be confirmed or not. In any case, it is reasonable to wait with the start of harvesting to retain chances for improving the quality of sugar beets.

Initial launch dates of the factories:

• Ust-Labinsky, Vyselkovsky – after August 1
• Tbilissky, Leningradsky, Pavlovsky, Kanevsky, Novopokrovsky – after August 2
• Timashevsky – after August 5