| MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Plantings for the 2001 sugar beet crop are
now complete with total acreage just over 30,000 acres, a
reduction of approximately 12,500 from the previous year. The
decrease in acreage is directly related to the current drought
conditions in southern Alberta.
Most growers require a certain level of water from the
irrigation system in order to grow sugar beets. This year, the
irrigation authorities can only guarantee half of the water
normally required due to low levels of water in the feeding
reservoirs. A number of growers have therefore decided not to
grow beets due to the uncertainty of water availability.
Rogers has ample capacity at its Vancouver refinery to make
up for the anticipated shortfall in production from the Taber
plant. |