SIDNEY, Mont.—Sugarbeet producers in the Sidney Sugars region in the Yellowstone Valley are some of the top beet growers in the nation, producing a high percentage of sugar in their beets each year.
“Many people don’t realize this, but for the last two years, Sidney Sugars has either been number one or number two in sugar percentage in our beets,” said Duane Peters, agronomist at Sidney Sugars Inc., in Sidney.
Last year, Montana beet growers were second in the nation, with 18.73 percent sugar in their beets, while Wyoming Sugars was number one. In 2014, Sidney Sugars was number one with 18.44 percent sugar.
“We are very proud of our sugarbeet growers doing an exceptional job of raising these beets,” Peters said.
Sidney Sugars is also gaining in sugarbeet tonnage. Where in the past, the tonnage would be 25 or 26 tons, in recent years tonnage has risen into the 30s, and even 40s.
“Not across the board, but we did have a couple of growers achieve 40 tons,” he said. “This year, a grower achieved what we call a 30-20: 30-ton beets and 20 percent sugar across 400-500 plus acres.”
This year, in mid-July, the company estimated there would probably be a 30-ton sugarbeet crop from all the eastern Montana/northwestern North Dakota areas that grow beets for Sidney Sugars. Last year, the crop was a 32-ton crop.
Source: www.theprairiestar.com