SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.—The 2015 Western Sugar Cooperative sugarbeet harvest had a late start, in part due to warm temperatures lasting well into October.
However, once the tractors and trucks got rolling, the process has moved quickly, with Jerry Darnell, Western’s south region agriculture manager, reporting Oct. 29 that Nebraska harvest is 75 percent complete, and Colorado is 65 percent complete.
Sugar loss to molasses is 1.25 in Nebraska, and 1.42 in Colorado. The 18 degree temperature in Box Butte County on Oct. 29 was the first killing frost of the season, and slowed operations, but Darnell said harvest might be pretty well wrapped up by next weekend.
“I think this is one of the better quality crops we’ve had in quite a while,” Darnell said.
Source: www.starherald.com