He adds, "Getting into a field too early can hurt as bad as getting in too late. If the ground is too muddy when grower's plant, the ground may split open along the planting row and dry the spots where seeds are trying to germinate. It's best to wait for the proper conditions before planting."
Fullmer sees no problem with the somewhat later start of planting this year. "It's later than normal, but it's not too late," he remarks. "I would expect most growers to be done planting sugarbeets by the first of May. Growers have big planters, because sometimes the window of opportunity doesn't remain open for too long. Growers are set up to plant a lot of acres in a short time."

The Sidney factory contracted approximately 46,400 acres of sugarbeets this year. The good moisture conditions indicate that the sugarbeets will have a good start, regardless of the fact that some growers are a week behind with planting. "It's a late start this year, but you never know," Fullmer points out. "Last year, growers got beets in on time, but it was so dry, the beets didn't do much until they were irrigated, and then they exploded in growth in June and July."

Growers delayed planting this year not only because of the wet weather, but also because of the cold nights experienced in April. "Cold nights have hampered efforts this year," Fullmer says. "Beets are very tender when they first emerge, and at this stage they couldn't withstand the cold overnight temperatures we had throughout the first three weeks in April."

Fullmer believes the good moisture conditions and warmer weather will not only speed germination, but will also help in the control of the weeds. "At this point, moisture looks good," he remarks. "A lot of grower will Roundup fields and get the early germination weeds."

He continues, "Weed kill could be good this year. Good moisture gets the weeds growing robustly, and it's easier to kill them when they are growing vigorously. It will really help growers if they can get a good weed kill now."

While growers stay busy planting the crop, Sidney's Holly factory officials keep busy in attempts to improve the Sidney factory. Fullmer reports that the Sugar Valley Receiving Station at Fairview will replace two smaller pilers with two high capacity pilers. "We have one high capacity piler to go to Sugar Valley, and we will bring in a second one, also for Sugar Valley," Fullmer says. "We'll move two of the smaller pilers currently at Sugar Valley to the Sidney factory pile grounds."

He adds, "Sugar Valley will still have six pilers. We're just exchanging two of the smaller ones for two larger ones. The larger pilers will handle semi-trucks better and will dump faster."

Factory officials also spent some time in California in April obtaining spare parts from the closed down California factories. "We had factory people from the Sidney factory go to California for spare parts from factories that have shut down," Fullmer comments. "There are some different items we can really use here."

As the warm weather continues and conditions dry out, Fullmer expects the Ag department maintenance crew will put the high capacity piler together, as well as handle other repair and maintenance duties. The factory crew have already begun repair and maintenance projects on equipment and machinery within the factory.

Fullmer also comments that the bankruptcy proceedings continue as planned. "We expect the plan will be approved sometime in May," he says. "We expect to be completely out of bankruptcy by fall."