LOVELL (WNE) — Mark Bjornestad, senior agriculturalist at Western Sugar, says local growers will start digging sugar beets on Sept. 14. While the campaign was originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 11 the crop needs more time in the ground, he said.

Early harvest will begin at the Heart Mountain pile as well as the Lovell pile. The factory will start slicing beets and making sugar the following day, Sept. 15.

The sugar content of the beets is currently in the high 18% range, lending favor to a successful campaign.

While the spring frost caused some concern early in the growing season, less than 5% of the crop had to be replanted. With the dry, warm winter, there was some concern about pests or fungus; however, those concerns have also proven to be invalid.

Healthy crops with an average tonnage and high sugar content generally make for successful campaigns.

Bjornestad also emphasized safety during beet harvest. Beet trucks cannot stop quickly. Living in rural Wyoming, community members may have become accustomed to seeing slow moving tractors and trucks, but this is a busy time that requires more diligence, he said, urging drivers to give beet trucks plenty of room to maneuver during the harvest season and be patient.

Early harvest will be outside of Ralston at the Heart Mountain pile and in Lovell just west of the factory. Shortly after, other piling grounds will be used as well.