Pre-pile harvest started August 23 across the American Crystal Sugar Company growing area. All of the factory yards are open and a few of the outdoor piling stations. In the Drayton Factory District, St. Thomas, North Dakota farmer Brent Baldwin is harvesting. “It was a little foggy out to start, so we waited a few hours. Rains from the previous week is making digging conditions really nice.” The sugarbeets have been two weeks behind. “We had decent rains after planting, then dried out. The sugarbeets haven’t caught up, but I’m surprised with what we’re getting. If we get more heat this week, the beets are going to take off. They can put tons on during September, we know that.” American Crystal Sugar Company General Agronomist Joe Hastings says the sugar factories plan to start slice on Thursday.
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