Source: MLive
Michigan Sugar Co.'s tonnage was down but sugar content was up in 2017.
That's some of the news that came out of the company's annual meeting Thursday, Jan. 11, at Saginaw Valley State University.
Mark Flegenheimer, CEO of the grower-owned cooperative, provided an update on Michigan’s sugar beet sector during the event.
“While Michigan’s sugar beet farmers have faced a variety of challenges during the past two years, including lower-than-average sugar content in 2016 and lower tons harvested in 2017, there are some positive signs headed into the new year,” Flegenheimer said in a statement.
“Thanks to investments made throughout the cooperative and ongoing research to help farmers improve yields and sugar content, we’re well-prepared for the future. We will continue to work hard to maximize economic opportunity for Michigan Sugar’s grower-owners and our 2,400 employees throughout the region.”
Here are some highlights of the 2017 sugar beet harvest and current processing campaign:
- Michigan Sugar, a grower-owned cooperative, is comprised of approximately 1,000 grower-owners.
- In 2017, they harvested 150,662 acres of sugar beets producing 3.85 million tons, or 25.56 tons per acre.
- Those numbers are down compared to the 157,563 acres and 4.88 million tons, or 31.03 tons per acre, harvested in 2016.
- Officials say the year-over-year decrease in tonnage was the result of "excessive early season rainfall last spring followed by a very dry summer."
- Heavy rains caused flooding across Mid-Michigan in June 2017. Flood damage throughout the region topped $100 million.