News : Storm damages sugar beets : Sidney Herald, Sidney, Montana

Storm damages sugar beets

Published on Friday, September 10, 2010 3:24 PM MDT

A hailstorm that struck the area Thursday night resulted in damage to some sugar beets in the valley.

Don Steinbeisser Jr., Montana Dakota Beet Growers Association president, said the main damage came north of Sidney and Fairview.

“Some people said they had some damage,” Steinbeisser said Friday afternoon. “It wasn’t a big area. Anytime you have hail, it sets the crop back some.”

Steinbeisser noted more damage occurred this summer from a hailstorm that hit crops in Fairview and north of Fairview.

Tim Fine, Extension agent, said there’s no good time for hail damage but right before harvest is a particularly bad one. With their leaves damaged, beets use energy on that instead of producing sugar.

“If it wasn’t getting close to harvest, it wouldn’t be as big of an issue,” Fine said. “When it happens earlier, they have more time to recover for new leaves.”

The National Weather Service, Glasgow, reported there was an inch of rain at the Sidney Airport. An inch and a half sized hail was reported to the weather service.

Steinbeisser and Sidney Sugars’ agricultural manager Russ Fullmer said there was little affect in Sidney or south of the community.

“I know south of town didn’t get much damage,” Steinbeisser said.

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