SIDNEY, Neb.—Hail has been the enemy of many area sugarbeet growers so far this summer. Russ Fullmer, agricultural manager at Sidney Sugars, estimates about 9,500 acres have been hit by hail in the past month.
Fullmer said some years, like in 2014, there are few hail storms. But this year is the opposite.
“You need to watch every storm and cross your fingers,” Fullmer said. “Somebody is going to get hit.”
About three weeks ago, a hail storm damaged crops north of Sidney and in the Fairview area.
“For some, it’s minor. For others, it was pretty severe,” Fullmer said.
Then last week, fields south of Sidney got hammered hard. Fullmer estimates some fields suffered 80 percent defoliation.
“It hit some really good beets and then it went over the river and hit some more,” Fullmer said.
He added the Fallon and Terry areas have also experienced damage. Just about every area has been hit some except for Savage, Fullmer said.
“It’s looking pretty good there (Savage), knock on wood,” Fullmer noted.
He feels this year’s crop will be an average one for the overall area. Sidney Sugars is taking root samples this week from each of the districts.
“It’s a starting point each year,” Fullmer said of the root samples.
He estimates tonnage to be 28.3 this year. Last year, the early estimate was 29 tons and it turned out to be 30.4 tons.
“There are some really good fields out there,” Fullmer noted.
Source: www.sidneyherald.com