Beet Harvest Signals Summer’s End

With the start of sugarbeet harvest, we all realize summer has truly come to an end. Area growers began the 2011 fall beet harvest last week, and Russ Fullmer, Sidney Sugar Agriculture Manager, expects harvest will take between two to three weeks to complete, depending on weather.

"The Eastern Ag Research Center harvested their plots in late September, and the neighbors harvested Nathan Langwald's beets on Sept. 28," says Fullmer. "Sugar Valley and Sidney started on Sept. 30 with some quotas due to heat. Culbertson and Savage were scheduled to start on Oct. 1, and Powder River and Pleasant View were to start on start on Oct. 2, but startup was delayed for these four stations due to hot weather."

He continues, "We did stagger the startup of harvest because of labor constraints. There are only so many people in the Ag department so we staggered startup in order to get the crews at the pile grounds started up properly."

Fullmer expects tonnage will remain near the Ag department's estimate, but he has no idea what to expect as far as sugar content goes. "We're still sticking with our estimate of 23.4 tons per acre," Fullmer says, "but I don't have a clue about sugar content. That's anyone's guess, but it sure doesn't look like a barn burner. We're hoping that sugar content will rise as harvest progresses, but we'll have to wait and see. At this point we expect sugar in the mid 17% range but I guess what we get is what we get."

Fullmer notes that Express Employment has secured enough labor to supply the employment needs for all six beet dumps. "Express did a good job," he remarks. "We expect to have enough labor at every pile ground."

Like last year, most workers at the pile grounds will stay in designated RV areas, with space paid for by Sidney Sugars. "People will be staying in RVs and tents," Fullmer comments. "Those people working at Fairview, Savage, and Sidney pile grounds will stay at the Richland County fairgrounds. Those people working in the south will stay at Terry, and those people in Culbertson will stay at the Roosevelt County fairgrounds in Culbertson."

He continues, "With the oil boom, we can't get enough local labor to run the pile grounds so we are forced into having these man camp style places. We are responsible for paying for this, but we are happy to do it because we need the space for people to stay and we need the workers."

Because of heavy oil traffic, people need to keep safety in mind at all times. Fullmer advises people to take care and caution during this busy harvest season. "Traffic is heavy already, especially in the north," he says. "Trucks can't stop on a dime, it takes time for them to get up to speed, and add this to all the oil trucks and it is scary."

He concludes, "I urge people to take their time. It gets worse the further north you go, so remember that. Be careful, be cautious, and be courteous at all times. It isn't worth it to rush and take chances, so plan to take a little extra time to reach your destination and stay alert at all times."