Record Breaking 2014 Beet Harvest

The 2014 beet harvest was a record breaking crop not only in terms of tonnage, but also in regards to sugar content. With a yield of 30.4 tons per acre and sugar content at 18.44%, this harvest has quite surpassed previous years. Looking at past crops, the 2012 harvest was the closest in terms of mass quantity with 27.9 tons per acre.

According to Russ Fulmer, this was "quite a year" with estimates being one ton less than what was actually harvested. Though the last several years the tonnage has been good because of the Roundup Ready Beets, the sugar percentage hasn't always been. The challenge for growers is finding a balance in terms of how much fertilizer to use as it increases quantity but can decrease the sugar content. Last year's crop, for instance, only had sugars in the 16% range.

The excellent crop can be attributed to planting that took place about ten days earlier than usual, followed by good spring rains. There weren't any damaging hail storms during the summer and there were plenty of warm days and cool nights in September which increases the sugar content.

Harvest got off to a slow start due to heavy rains, however the weather did turn around and beyond that wind was the biggest issue. Each day was steady and harvest officially wrapped up on October 25.

"This was a beautiful crop. I'd take one like it every year, harvest weather included," said Fulmer who added that he hoped they could make a pattern of it.

Though it seems beet harvest has only just finished, plans are already underway for next year. Seed Approval meetings have taken place, Growers meetings will be held in February and contracting will begin in March for the 2015 crop. The Top 10 will take place in January, recognizing the five best large growers and five best small growers in the area.