House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson got a harvest update from local potato and sugarbeet farmers on Tuesday. The cold, wet weather is a challenge, but farmers are still trying to harvest sugarbeets. According to American Crystal Sugar Company CEO Tom Astrup, sugarbeet harvest is 65 percent complete in the growing area. “The worst area is from Hillsboro to Grand Forks, North Dakota over to Crookston, Minnesota. In these areas, harvest is only about 50 to 55 percent complete.” The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association estimates about 50 percent of potatoes are unharvested. Many farmers wrapped up potato harvest the last week of October. Folson Farms Marketing Manager Casey Folson says they harvested 40 percent of fresh red and yellow potatoes. “It’s challenging in a wet weather year.” In addition to the tough harvest conditions, farmers told Peterson crop insurance improvements are needed. Adding sugarbeets to insurance provisions and consistency in insurance policy interpretations were two suggestions. Peterson will relay the information to USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey in a meeting in Moorhead on Friday. Listen to the story.