The interest in beet is alive and well according to Simon Cross. Speaking at the recent Cross Engineering open day, the manufacturer outlined his belief that the sector is set to grow, with plans afoot to re-launch the sugar industry at an advanced stage with Beet Ireland.

Simon believes the crop gives tillage farmers a good crop rotation option with the latest greening rules. Biogas plants established in Europe use beet, and Simon feels the Government needs to give farmers the correct support to reinvest and start a new beet industry in Ireland.

Cross Engineering displayed its full range of cleaning and chopping machines at the open day. One of these is the 20t per hour Gazelle machine. Requiring 800 gallons of water per hour, the machine can wash and chop beet safely for animal feed.

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The award-winning Rhino beet washer chopper is the top specification machine from Cross. A computerised control allows the washing and chopping programme to be completed automatically. This machine has the ability to wash and chop over 60t per hour, according to Cross.

Cross has an impressive lineup of beet equipment. See www.crossagrieng.ie.