| Although total acres for Nebraska and Colorado are not available,
close to 30,000 acres have been committed in northern Wyoming to the
Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Cooperative, according to Randon
Wilson, attorney for the co-op.
Sugarbeet growers in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Nebraska are
trying to buy out Western Sugars six Rocky Mountain region
factories, including one at Lovell, Wyo.
Wilson, Salt Lake City attorney spearheading the effort, said the
co-op has obtained in excess of 150,000 acres in the four states,
and he anticipates the co-op will obtain its goal of 170,000 acres.
"Were gaining acres every day in Nebraska and
Colorado," Wilson said Tuesday afternoon. "We know we can
make it, and we expect to be there."
All sign-up programs expire today, and Wilson said it would take
at least a week to get final tallies.
He said the co-op is also looking at ways to accommodate Holly
Sugar Company growers if the Holly plants do not run due to the
Chapter 11 filing by Imperial Sugar, Hollys parent company.
According to Wilson, Montana co-op subscriptions have been
virtually full from the beginning.
Wilson said that while financing is not completely in place to
finalize the deal by the March 31 deadline, he is not worried.
"Ive done these deals before, and the funds are in place
when were ready to close. We purposely do it that way,"
Wilson said. "Were on task to close this transaction by
March 31." |