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MINATARE The first sugarbeets planted
for the Rocky Mountain Sugar Growers Cooperative in the
Scottsbluff area went into the ground about 3 p.m. Thursday.
They are on the Al Pester farm southeast
of Minatare, within sight of the old Great Western Sugar
Company factory that was built in 1926.
Watching from his pickup as the tractor
slowly made its way up and down the field, Pester said not
only had he bought into the co-op, but his wife, his sons and
his brother have shares also.
"This time its a good deal,"
Pester said, recalling an earlier attempt by growers to
purchase Great Western Sugar in the 1970s. "I was against
that one and I was right out front to stop it.
"This time is different. The
factories are in good shape and there is more and better
equipment."
Pester bases his faith in the co-op on
his experience with different processors since he took up
farming nearly 50 years ago.
The farmer/cattle feeder is just as
excited about planting conditions for the 2001 crop. About
half an inch of rain fell in that area earlier this week, and
more precipitation is expected this weekend.
According to Kevin Vollmer, Western Sugar
agriculture manager for Colorado and Nebraska, existing
moisture is very good and the outlook for irrigation water has
improved over the past two months.
"The reservoirs in Colorado are
full," he said Thursday afternoon. "But we need
moisture through this spring to bring the crop up in good
condition."
Vollmer said producers have been planting
around Greeley, Colo., for the past week, and he anticipates
most farmers will be in the fields next Monday. He said 400 to
500 acres have been planted at Billings, Mont., and growers
are just getting in the fields at Lovell, Wyo.
In the Panhandle, Vollmer expects most
farmers will be planting by the end of next week.
"The early guys think they are a
week behind, but normal dates around here are April 5th to the
15th," he said.
"Its a good change of pace,"
said Jerry Darnell, senior agriculturist for Western Sugar in
Scottsbluff. "Its time to get the crop in. We have
better moisture than weve had at this time in the past two
years, so things are looking good." |