| In one of the most unusual spring planting periods in
Amalgamateds history, the company has no tally of what
beets are being planted where.
Del Traveler, assistant to the vice president of
agriculture for the company, said it wont be until May 15
before the company has a good handle on this years
planting.
What has thrown things into the air is the Idaho Power
Company power buyback. Many high-lift pump irrigators have
chosen to forego using power to pump this summer in lieu of a
per kWh payment.
Beet growers, still obligated for contracted acresor to
pay the companys assessment anywayhave moved their
beets. Most of the beets moved include those around the Snake
River from Twin Falls west to Mountain Home.
Traveler says many acres have been placed in the Magic
Valley, some in eastern Idaho, and he is unsure of rumors that
some have been moved into Oregon.
Acreage will be down a little, Traveler says, because of
the power buy back and because of the acreage movement. Many
acres have been contracted grower-to-grower with growers
paying other growers to grow for them. Traveler says because
the co-op allows this, it wont be until after all planting
is done by the deadline of May 15 that the company can get a
handle on it.
Traveler said the company has changed its haul-back charge
this year to a freight-neutral plan. Instead of the company
splitting the haul to the factory, the grower must pay for his
own haul this year to justify the movement of beets outside
traditional growing areas.
On a disappointing note, Traveler confirmed that nearly
6,000 acres of beets in the Nampa, ID, area were frozen on the
morning of April 9 and had to be replanted. |