| Holly Update... With the successful conclusion of early harvest, growers have begun the
task of completing full harvest in as timely as manner as possible. Early
harvest went well, and Russ Fullmer, Sidney Holly Sugar agriculture
manager, hopes full harvest proceeds without a hitch. So far everything
is OK, he says. Early harvest started out muddy, and tares were
high, but as things dried out the dirt tare got better.
Growers generally harvest their worst fields first. However, some
growers held off harvesting their poorer fields until they knew whether or
not their fields received acceptance under the Payment in Kind (PIK)
program. We had no clue who would get accepted on PIK acres, because
everyone was bidding against everyone else, Fullmer remarks. Beets
that would normally get here in early harvest but didnt, we will put on
the early ends so they get into the factory and processed quickly.
Area sugarbeets have big crowns this year, caused in part by the heat
and by Cercospora. Were finding large crowns this year, Fullmer
notes. The tare lab has to grind off this excess so this adds to the
percentage of tare. Growers need to lower their knives.
However, because growers have varying sizes of beets within each
individual field this year, knife adjustment becomes more difficult. The
beets within the same fields are different sizes, so it is hard to adjust
knives, Fullmer acknowledges. Growers have big and small beets in
the same field. Lots of fields had partial replanting, so beets are not
uniform. I expect well see this variation of size the whole way through
harvest.
At the start of early harvest, beet sugar content hovered in the 15%
range. The sugar level has gradually increased, and Fullmer hopes to see
sugar continue to improve as harvest continues. Were hoping beets
start to sugar up, he comments. Sugar continues to improve, and as
beets dry out and the weather cools, sugar content should improve as well.
The amount of brei nitrates in the beets also determines sugar levels.
Unfortunately, this years beets show high levels of brei nitrates. Brei
nitrates are very high this year, Fullmer remarks. Beets didnt
have as thick a stand this year because of late planted beets. Every rain
also adds nitrogen.
In spite of the high levels of brei nitrates, Fullmer still hopes to
see continued improvement in beet sugar content. He also points out that
although sugars are not as high as some years, this year still will be
better than many years hes seen. Hopefully the sugar content will
rise, he says. This isnt a record breaker year on any of our
parameters, but Ive seen lots worse years than this one.
Holly Sugar will have no idea of yields until growers have moved well
into harvest. Its such a varied crop this year, Fullmer says. Its
hard to predict what well see.
The rebuilt Dakota pilers located at the Sugar Valley Receiving Station
in Fairview have performed well so far. We ran beets through both
rebuilt pilers during early harvest, Fullmer says. We made a few
minor modifications on them for full harvest. Both pilers are working
well, and were happy with them.
The new computerized scale system at the Sidney factory yard also works
quite well. This system works very well with the new program we have in
accounting, Fullmer comments. The program makes life a little easier
for the accounting department with inputs. Were doing things a little
differently, and the more we automate, the better and faster we can get
daily information.
Fullmer also reminds everyone to take extra care, allow a little more
time on the road for traveling, and to keep safety in mind at all times
during harvest. Its a busy time of year, and there are a lot of
heavy trucks on the road, he states. Watch out for them. |