Everyone is smiling over the southern Alberta sugar beet harvest.
Gerald Third, executive director of the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, said Oct. 11 that harvest is underway and both tonnage and sugar content are higher than expected.
Harvest began earlier this fall than growers had initially expected after a cold and wet spring slowed planting progress. Hot weather and nearly ideal growing conditions over the summer brought the beets along, said Third.
“This (harvest) kind of bolted out of the gate and is going extremely well.”
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Sugar content of more than 18 percent is being reported in some crops. Levels above 15 are generally considered to be good.
The Lantic sugar factory in Taber, which processes all Alberta sugar beets, is fully operational and engaged in the beet slice, said Third.
Growers are hauling to the eight piling stations available and those close to Taber haul directly to the factory site. Beets will be hauled throughout the fall and winter from the piling stations to the factory.
The beet growers’ contract with Lantic this year called for 34,400 acres of beets.
