The Fergus Falls Daily Journal

• Latest Stories

  • Authorities search for missing man
  • Company Drivers & Owner Operators
  • PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALIST
  • Magnusson sentenced
  • More bear sightings reported

Sugarbeet harvest starts early [UPDATED]

By Tom Hintgen

Daily Journal

Harvesting an estimated 28-plus tons of sugarbeets, compared to 21 tons a year ago, is underway in Wilkin County, west of Foxhome. It’s the earliest harvest on record. Sept. 1 is usually the kickoff to an early sugarbeet harvest in this area.

“This will be the biggest crop we’re ever had,” said Mike Metzger, agriculturalist for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative in Wahpeton. “A real boomer is on the way this year for sugarbeets.”

The exciting news for area sugarbeet farmers in 2010 is in sharp contrast to the previous two years. Heavy rainfall in September of both years delayed the harvest. Beet lifter wheels couldn’t turn, trucks got stuck and mud raised havoc with other sugarbeet operations.

“This year, aside from the early harvest, it’s a little different in other respects, as well,” said Metzger. “We’ve had the road detours near Highway 210, and for that reason the Yaggie Piler Station west of Foxhome won’t be used this week. Haulers will take the sugarbeets directly to our Minn-Dak receiving stations.”

Metzger said that, by Sunday or Monday, close to 10 percent of Wilkin County’s sugarbeets could be harvested.

After harvesting sugarbeets west of Foxhome and elsewhere, the next step runs through April of 2011. That’s when the beets are processed into sugar at the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative plant north of Wahpeton and at similar facilities.

More than one-half of sugar produced in the United States comes from sugarbeets. This year, beet farmers had the luxury of an early planting and a tremendous growing season, said Metzger.

“It will be odd to see sugarbeets on the sides of roads, in August,” said Metzger. “Other areas of western Minnesota, in addition to Wilkin County, also are having early harvests.”

The average planting date in many areas was two weeks earlier than what farmers normally experience. Thatwas due to the fantastic growing season this year.

Starting the harvest early will allow area sugarbeet farmers the opportunity to get some tons processed rather than leaving them in the ground, at the end of the harvest this fall.

Farmers in Wilkin County and elsewhere, throughout the sugarbeet harvest area, also need help from Mother Nature the next several weeks.