Sugar beet cultivation in the catchment area of the Anklam sugar factory .1. Structure of farms and sugar beet cultivation

A representative survey of a third of the beet suppliers of the Anklam sugar factory produced comprehensive data on farm structure and sugar beet cultivation. On average, the farms had an arable area of 1052 ha and a beet area of 47 ha in 1995. Most farms have only one field of beets. The beet delivery quotas for all regions and farm sires show only small deviations from the arable area average of 1.8 t/ha. Out of seven reported legal forms, the incidence of corporations increases sharply with increasing farm size. Animal densities, rotations and general management are remarkably similar for all legal forms and farm sizes. Organic manures are applied on 66% of beet areas. Prior to sugar beet cultivation, soil analyses are carried out on 61% of the areas. Growers with their own equipment as well as contractors use large multiple-row machines. Contractors plant 36% and harvest 66% of all sugar beets. The objective of growers is to stabilize germination, yields and beet quality on a higher level.