By Scout Nelson
Western Sugar began its early sugar beet harvest on Monday, Sept. 2. Sugar beets are already piling up, waiting for processing at the factory.
“We’ve been running for a day and a half, and our sugar content is 15.4, a record high for this time of year,” said Jerry Darnell, Vice President of Agriculture, South Region for Western Sugar. Darnell credits the high sugar content to good growing conditions, the herbicide Goltix, and CR+ beet seed, which helped combat Cercospora.
Though temperatures are still high, sometimes reaching the 90s, Darnell remains optimistic. “In early harvest, we control the purchasing and slicing of the beets, so it’s (heat) not an issue,” he said. Regular harvest is expected to begin in October with predicted sugar content of 18.8 and 31 tons per acre.
Other crops in Nebraska’s Panhandle include dry edible beans and corn. Some beans have already been harvested, while corn is close to full dent. Meanwhile, winter wheat has been planted in dryland areas, and millet is soon to be harvested.
Irrigation water deliveries continue, with the North Platte Valley systems diverting water to assist with crop growth. Growers are using estimated crop water use to optimize irrigation scheduling. Water use varies based on crop type, growth stage, and environmental conditions across the Panhandle.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-luiscarlosjimenezi
Categories: Nebraska, Corn, Sugar Beets, General