The 2024 sugar beet harvest in Washakie County has set new records for Wyoming Sugar, with Head Agriculturist Jacob Bullinger reporting an impressive yield of approximately 36 tons per acre.
This surpasses the company’s overall yield of 33 tons per acre, marking a significant achievement despite challenging weather conditions.
Harvesting operations faced temporary delays in early October due to unexpected wet weather and elevated temperatures, which led to muddy fields and yard conditions. Despite these disruptions, the sugar beets proved resilient. Bullinger noted that the sugar content of the beets remained high, averaging around 19.6%, a testament to the crop’s quality and the efforts of the agricultural team.
The record-breaking yield has brought both rewards and logistical challenges. The high volume of sugar beets has necessitated temporary storage solutions, with some beets being piled at the edges of fields. However, Bullinger reassured that processing at the Wyoming Sugar Factory in Worland is running smoothly. The processing campaign is on track and is expected to be completed by March 2025.
With input from Northern Wyoming News.
