30 Years Ago: Excerpts from the April 1983 Issue

    Early Delivery Plan Wins Grower Support — “Minidoka County (Idaho) beet growers are still enthused about their early delivery program of 1982.

    “The growers asked Amalgamated Sugar Company if they would contract additional acres with the stipulation that these beets would be delivered earlier than normal.  The company agreed and growers planted and harvested 4,500 acres.  These acres produced a total of 88,244 tons of beets — an average of 19.39 tons per acre.  Sugar content was 14.07%.  (Regular harvest beets averaged 22.19 tons per acre with a sugar content of 15.16%.)
      “The initial payment of $26.63 per ton totaled $2,023,676.  Growers compared these results:
      “Had this same 4,500 acres been planted to: Barley @ 110 bu. per acre x $2.25 = $247.50, totaling $1,113,750; Wheat @ 85 bu. per acre x $3.50 = $297.50, totaling $1,338,750; Beans @ 20 bags per acre x $11.00 = $220.00, totaling $990,000.
      “Needless to say, early delivery is a part of the 1983 program for Minidoka growers.”

    Clarksburg Now Grower Owned -- “California growers who grow beets for the Clarksburg plant of American Crystal Sugar Company have taken the bull by the horns and are now the owners — and still growers — of the Clarksburg beet sugar factory.
    “The story started some months ago.  American Crystal served notice that (1) American Crystal would operate the factory in 1983 only if the beet purchase agreement was rewritten as a ‘nonloss’ contract to Crystal, or (2) that a new operator or buyer could be found for the plant, or (3) that the Clarksburg growers would form a cooperative and purchase the plant.
    “A buying group emerged — consisting of foreign interests and the present growers — and a company was formed, Delta Sugar Company.  An offer was made to Crystal, accepted by Crystal and it appeared everything was in order.  But, the foreign interests withdrew at the last second.
    “Growers in the Clarksburg area, still wanting to grow beets, and Crystal started negotiations all over.  The negotiations were successful and a new deal was made.
    “The new group, Clarksburg-Dixon, Inc., signed a contract to purchase, with Crystal continuing managing operations for one year.  After that, Clarksburg-Dixon will be owned and managed by growers, but not as a cooperative.”