Sidney Sugars honored the Top 10 Beet Growers at the annual Top 10 luncheon held last Wednesday at St. Matthews multi purpose center.
Before announcing this year's winners, agricultural manager Russ Fullmer gave an overview of the 2013 growing season. Mother Nature presented Sidney Sugars and beet growers with challenges at planting, harvesting and in between. The traditional planting date saw snow still on the ground, causing delays of a week or two. Within 2 weeks of emergence, pivots were up and farmers were looking at having to start irrigating early. Then the rains came, providing plentiful moisture throughout the spring and early summer.
Early root samples showed 26.5 tons per acre. Those estimates were downgraded after hail struck over 50% of the beets, sometimes more than once. However, average tonnage turned out to be over 27 tons per acre. Fullmer said high tonnage seems to be the new average, with everyone still trying to figure out Roundup Ready beets. However, lower sugar content is an issue that needs to be addressed. Sidney Sugars agriculturalists will be discussing that issue among others during planter meetings scheduled for February 25 and 26 at Sunrise Equipment in Sidney.
Harvest started off great, with 80% of the crop harvested in the first 10 days. The weather turned and it took the rest of October to harvest the final 20%, with the last load being delivered on Halloween.
Campaign is in full swing with an expected wrap up date of February 9. Beets in the ventilated piles at Savage and Fairview still must be hauled to the factory for processing, but that should be accomplished within the next couple of weeks..
Overall, 2013 was once again a successful year for area growers and Sidney Sugars.
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