| Sugar beet harvest will be completed by the end of this week, according
to Holly Sugar Agriculture Manager Russ Fullmer.
"For all practical reasons, we're done," Fullmer said.
This year's crop was "a couple of tons short of average,"
according to Fullmer. The average of 19.5 tons compared to 22 tons last
year.
The sugar percentage was close to average at 18 percent.
"I think the growers were disappointed with the tonnage, but there
were no complaints about the sugar percentage," Fullmer said.
Don Steinbeisser, past president of the Mon Dak Sugar Beet Growers
Association, said growers were pleased with the nice weather during
harvest, "but the crop was pretty light."
Terry Cayko, president of the organization, said, the weather was the
best that he can recall.
"I can't remember when we started on day one and were able to work
all the way through," Cayko said.
Cayko added, "The growers were a little disappointed in tonnage
but pretty pleased with the sugar content."
Steinbeisser said price has, however, increased for sugar.
"Even with a light crop, we aren't too disappointed,"
Steinbeisser said. |