Winds have caused a lot of damage as well. Besides drying out the ground, the strong winds have destroyed many acres of young sugarbeet seedlings, causing growers to scramble in order to replant destroyed acres prior to the June 1 replant cutoff date. Russ Fullmer, agriculture manager at the Sidney Holly Sugar factory, reports that growers have replanted several thousand acres of sugarbeets this year. Growers have completed replanting of over 2,000 acres, he remarks. This is a little above normal for replanting.

He continues, There are a lot of different situations out there this year, from early planted fields with lots of moisture to fields just germinating now due to irrigation. All replanted fields and later planted fields need irrigated. The early plantings have tapped into moisture, so they are OK.

Winds have caused a lot of extra work. Its frustrating with all the wind, Fullmer comments. We were off to a good start, and then weve been faced with constant winds. The crops are really beat up and wind stressed. He continues, The grit and flying sand cut off seedlings at ground level. The bigger beets move from side to side in the wind, what we call the helicopter effect. This can weaken the plant and can pinch it off.

The crop outlook to date indicates that this year sugarbeets will average about normal or somewhat below normal in yields. Its still a long way until harvest, and things can change quickly, Fullmer notes. However, at this point, we expect an average or slightly below average yield.

On a positive note, insect problems have not plagued growers overly much this year. Its not a bad insect year so far, Fullmer says. We didnt see any cutworms, which is usually our first insect problem. We got through that one OK.

Growers in the northern end of the district have seen some springtail insects this spring. These insects work the edges of the field, Fullmer says. Growers in the Fairview area also have seen increased numbers of root maggot flies and will have to spray to control these insects. Growers put out sticky traps, and when they catch a certain number of root maggot flies, it is time to spray, Fullmer explains.

Growers need to spray for root maggot flies before the females have the opportunity to lay their eggs. If these flies have a chance to cycle, growers will have problems in the field, and once that happens, theres nothing that can be done, Fullmer notes. Therefore, it is necessary to spray immediately as soon as fly numbers reach a certain point.

He adds, If we get through this, we ought to be OK until Cercospora season. The Ag department continues to work on replacing and installing new pilers. Holly Sugar obtained two large pilers and intends to use these larger pilers to replace two smaller pilers currently at the Sugar Valley receiving station in Fairview. Crews will move the two smaller pilers from Sugar Valley to the pile grounds at the factory yard. Crews have already moved one of the larger pilers from a factory in California to Fairview. Fullmer expects the second piler to arrive in Fairview during the first part of June. The first piler is here, Fullmer comments. The second piler has been dismantled, and agriculturist Ron Tharp will travel to Oregon to supervise the move from a factory site in Oregon to Fairview.

He adds, We are waiting for permits to move the two smaller pilers at Fairview to the factory yard.

With the acquisition of the larger pilers, Fullmer now believes the receiving station needs better conveyors. Our big need now is for low profile cross conveyors, he remarks. These conveyors sit low to the ground so semis can drive over them easily.

Fullmer also reports that Chapter 11 procedures continue to move as scheduled. Lawyers will present the plan to the Court on June 5, he says. If all goes as planned, we could be out of Chapter 11 by the first of August.