By Troy Krause
The final results for the region’s sugar beet crop have not yet been determined, but those who have seen the numbers are looking at this year’s yield with a smile. “Farmers had a good year,” said Todd Geselius, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC) vice-president of agriculture. “It may even be a record.” According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the average sugar beet yield in 2016 across the state was 30 tons per acre. Estimates for 2017 show at least a half-ton increase over that. In addition, the sugar beets that have been processed are showing a good sugar content. The average sugar content is in the 16.3 percent range, but this year the beets coming in are higher than that. So, with a good crop in from the fields, it makes sense for those who are processing those beets into sugar to ensure they are still in good condition when they travel from the sites where they have been piled to the plant. Unlike corn or beans that go to the elevator and are shielded from the elements, sugar beets are hauled from the field to a number of SMBSC sites throughout the region. Those sugar beets are then piled and await further transport. In the past, those piles were at the mercy of the elements. When the pile got too hot, there was spoilage. If they froze and then thawed there was spoilage. The key for those working with the harvested sugar beets was finding a way to maintain a consistent climate for them as they sat. Prior to the 2016 harvest, officials at SMBSC began working on a plan that would address that issue, and as a result it installed a system that when in use keeps the pile of sugar beets frozen. Along the sides of the pile located a few miles west of Redwood Falls one will notice this system. Geselius said the technology works to keep the sugar beets cold regardless of the external temperature through the use of fans and a series of tubes to push air throughout the pile maintaining that cold temperature. “Cold beets store better,” said Geselius, adding while one can see the fan units the tubes are placed in culverts below the pile. Geselius added the technology has been installed at other sites in the region as well, adding after one year of use they appear to be a good investment. In previous years there was an assumed loss due to fluctuations in the temperature where the sugar beet piles were placed, but with this new technology those loss numbers are expected to drop dramatically. “We think this is going to be a very useful piece of technology,” said Geselius. The technology allows the cooperative to keep the beets in the piles for a longer period of time. Geselius said in the past the rule of thumb was that the beets in a pile could not be there beyond March 1. With this new technology they could remain piled up into May. “After May it gets too warm,” said Geselius. The technology has been placed permanently at the sites, because officials at SMBSC are confident they are going to make a positive impact on the final result – the amount of sugar being processed at the Renville County plant. The SMBSC is 100 percent owned by shareholders, with approximately 500 shareholders /growers in involved. There are about 375 people employed full-time through the cooperative, with an added 475 seasonal employees brought on during the harvest season. To learn more about SMBSC and the process of getting sugar from sugar beets, visit its Web site at www.smbsc.com. Sugar Beet News | via Redwood Falls Gazette | Posted Nov 26, 2017 at 12:01 AM | http://ift.tt/2z9Yi80 December 13, 2017 at 02:01PM
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Ridges on top of this sugarbeet pile are smoothed out like those in the background to prevent spoilage. By Dianne Swanson | RoundUpWeb.com The science of storage has been studied extensively by Kelly Thomas, plant physiologist/ genetics with American Crystal. Through years of study, Thomas has documented the activity in beet piles and how storage can be improved. During harvest, the pilers create ridges at the top, creating a chimney effect which creates hot spots when the beets respirate. In 1992, Roger Hill, president of Sidney Sugars, Don Lind, Sidney factory manager, Dave Melin agricultural manager and Albin devised a plan to even out the ridges to better preserve the beets. Albin uses a Bombardier 350 h.p. Sno Cat with a 14' blade to level the tops of the beet piles in the Sidney Sugars growing area. He was headed to Savage next and possibly on to Billings. He's leveled beet piles as far away as Greely, CO and is on his 5th machine. He enjoys the work and says, "I'd be plowing snow in Red Lodge this winter if I didn't have cattle to feed every day." He will also plow snow off the beet piles this winter if needed. Sidney Sugars also uses passive and forced air ventilation to cool the beets. This year 72,000 tons are under passive ventilation with another 95,000 in Fairview and Sidney under forced air, which is a huge increase from last year. The goal is to give the beets a good chill, but not freeze, so fans are run at certain temperature ranges. Agriculturalists Kathryn Cayko at Sugar Valley and Vanessa Pooch at the factory yard are on call 24/7. They both set alarms to alert them if the temperature gets too warm and they have to get the fans turned on, even if it's at 2 a.m. That regimen typically lasts until December, or the first good snow fall, or when the temperature hits 0 degrees. "The beets store really well with the cold air from the first few months," Cayko said. Sidney Sugars flies the piles and uses an infared camera to capture the temperature of the beets. This year they will also utilize a company out of Watford City that employs drones. The fly-overs show a dramatic difference in the temperature of the beets with forced air ventilation, and they also show any trouble spots that may need to be dealt with. Depending on the results, Sidney Sugars hopes to do more with drones in the future. The first test will take place next week with fly-overs continuing once a month through campaign. Final results are in for this year's harvest with 31.2 tonnage and 17.99 sugar. All beets have been hauled from the Culbertson area and Powder River should be completed next week. Non-vented beets should be at the factory by mid to late January followed by passive, then forced air ventilated beets. Sugar Beet News | http://ift.tt/2z4IW2Q via The Roundup http://ift.tt/2A4prHM November 1, 2017 at 08:35AM Western Sugar: Three new steps being taken to address odor in Fort Morgan - Fort Morgan Times7/20/2017
Western Sugar: Three new steps being taken to address odor in Fort Morgan - Fort Morgan Times
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Sugar Beet News - Test Sugarbeet News via sugar industry http://ift.tt/2ue5xq7 July 19, 2017 at 07:19PM
Sugar Beet News via Sugarbeet News http://ift.tt/2eoPxuY March 27, 2017 at 11:17AM
Sugar Beet News via Sugarbeet News http://ift.tt/2eoPxuY March 26, 2017 at 10:48AM World-class bulk storage and transfer facility improves service, reliabilityMONTGOMERY, ILL. – (February 21, 2017) United Sugars Corporation (USC) announces the commencement of a new bulk sugar storage and transfer facility in Montgomery, Illinois, 45 miles west of Chicago. The plant made its first shipment of sugar to a customer on February 2, 2017.
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