Fall Sugarbeets

 What’s the status of Idaho’s sugar beets. What a crazy season it’s been for sugar beet growers out here in the West. We had a wet cool spring that delayed things, a pretty good summer, but then there’s been some rain and early cold weather with fear of frost. Here in Idaho things seem to be going well but we’ll return to that in a minute. Listen to this from The Billings Gazette over in Montana. 

Foul weather has stranded a record sugar beet crop in the field, and with below-freezing temperatures in the forecast, farmers are nervous.In fact some farmers are hoping for some snow to cover up their crop. Snow isn't desirable to beet farmers often, but a 4- to 6-inch blanket would insulate area crops from temperatures predicted to drop as low as 9 degrees.

Let’s hear from Mark Duffin, Executive Director, Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association: “Things looking good?  They’re looking promising right now. Had a tough spring, a pretty good growing season and looks like a pretty good crop out there. And prices are OK? Prices are looking pretty favorable, yes.”

The Billings Gazette trumps that forecast saying that there may not only be record harvests but also the highest market prices for crystal sugar in 30 years.