2018 Sugar Beets

2018 Sugar Beets

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
In the shade of Mount Harrison south of Burley, s The Magic Valley might have the second greatest sugar beet harvest of the decade. Farmer Tyson Wrigley says this season may be as sweet as the epic 2016 harvest. “Going very well, probably above average. The yields seemed great this year, the sugar started off really well. The rain has dropped the sugar a little bit but as we dry out and go forward, the sugars are coming back, probably above average.” Crews are topping and digging beets sun up to sundown. Aaron Firth of Amalgamated sugars says the Idaho crop is pushing the record book. “Our best ever year was 2016 and we had an average Yield of over 40 tons. Think we will be pretty close to that.” Here in Burley and fields across Idaho, sugar is so far averaging 18.28%. That landmark 2016 season ended up at 18.21%. Farmers at Amalgamated think sugar content will hold, setting a new record. “because of the hot days this summer

 

Last year growers tallied a disappointing 16.8% sugar content in their beets. The sugar market is on the rise and barring bad weather down the stretch, this season could go down as one of the best.

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