CONTINUING disruption at British Sugar's West Midlands processing factory is causing farmers and hauliers in Herefordshire a succession of problems.

Although almost threequarters through the 24-week harvesting campaign, it is estimated that only just over half of the bumper crop of beet grown in the area has been delivered to the Allscot factory and growers are concerned that some of their crop might be lost.

Some farmers who have lifted beet are being told by the factory to delay deliveries and hauliers have had their travel arrangements disrupted, resulting in wasted time and hasty rearrangements having to be made.

Grower Nigel Roper of Pencraig, Ross-on-Wye, chairman of the NFU sugar beet committee, said when the pulp-press problems were properly overcome at the factory it was hoped to increase production from 4,500 tonnes to 6,000 tonnes a week. "We are delivering beet at the moment but have had our loads cut by 25%."

Farmers, he said, were worried about lifting too much beet and having to store it. The beet could heat up and sugar content lost. Crops left in fields could become suspect during bad weather.

Mr Roper added that bad weather not only affected lifting but haulage in the county - one of the foremost for growing beet.

Andrew Richards, NFU policy advisor in the West Midlands, said that while British Sugar were doing their level best to right matters, the disruption was continually causing difficulty and frustration at the growing end.

Last autumn, British Sugar had spent £8 million on new equipment but older parts were breaking down. "They need to understand farmers' problems and look carefully how they plan their maintenance," said Mr Richards.

Contractor Keith Watkins of Harewood End, who runs three harvesters and concentrates on sugar beet for six months of the year, said the lack of consistency in production at the factory was probably hitting the big hauliers worse and was worrying for the long-term growing of sugar beet in the area. There had seldom been so much sugar beet left in the ground at the time of year.

"We can harvest it but the customer is taking a risk. There is a risk from frost in the field or in a clamp which should be covered by a British Sugar sheet.

A British Sugar spokesman admitted there had been problems despite major investment but was confident of finishing the season late February or early March. One day recently, a record 6,500 tonnes had been sliced. "It is a good and clean crop and we are going well at the moment," he said.