That cool-down early in the week, with a show of fall? Beet growers loved it.

The sugar beet harvest reached the halfway point Tuesday, with 50% of the crop in the Lovell Factory District delivered.

“A lot of guys will be finishing up this week,” said Heart Mountain grower and beet board member Ric Rodriguez. “We had perfect weather in September,” as beets continued to grow, he said. 

If anything, temperatures have been a little high for ideal piling, and beet receiving stations have had to close a few hours early some days.

“The cool-down is helpful. Beets will store better when it’s cool,” he said. “With cooler temperatures, beets also start to store sugar.”

Lovell district beets have posted an average 17% sugar content with half of the crop delivered.

“That’s right on track for our average,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been going up every day.”

Yields are running a little better than predicted at around 26 tons to the acre.

Receiving stations continue to operate 7 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days a week, with no adverse weather events in the forecast.

— Dave Bonner