Problems experienced by some sugar beet growers is no mystery, according to the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO).
The BBC described the problem as “mystery symptoms” which were causing erratic growth and, in some areas, crop failure.
However, BBRO spokesman Paul Bee said there was no mystery – the crop has been affected by the cold spring.
He said: “We are doing more investigations and trying to simulate the unusually cold growing conditions so we can have more information. At the moment we can’t see anything to do with disease. It’s a growth issue in one of the coldest springs we have seen.”