If agriculture producers in the North Platte Valley area have one thing in common this fall, it's enthusiasm.
Grower prices are among the best they've been in years, and although weather has reduced yields, in most cases there is still an average or above average crop waiting to be harvested.

Probably the most eager farmers are those who raise sugar beets. For the first time, Roundup Ready beets were planted in the Western Sugar Cooperative fields, reducing the impact of weed control on the crop. Some speculate the yield could be increased by as much as 15 percent. The last root samples, taken in late August, indicate a possible yield of 23 tons per acre, with a 17 percent sugar content.

According to Jerry Darnell, agriculture manager for Western Sugar's Nebraska and eastern Wyoming district, a Roundup Ready beet crop is healthier and cleaner because it eliminates the need to spray three times to control weeds. It also reduces tare at the receiving stations, which allows the beet piles to store better.

An earlier concern for powdery mildew did not materialize. as the difference between extremely hot days and very cool nights did not occur.

"Generally, the crop is good quality and good sugar," Darnell said Friday afternoon. "I'm anxious to get started. With decent weather, good yields and some really good prices, the growers can capitalize on both."

Limited early harvest will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, about a week to 10 days later than usual, just at the Scottsbluff Yard. The other receiving stations, including the Torrington, Wyo., factory, will open for regular harvest on Monday, Oct. 6. The East Alliance station will not open this season, and growers will deliver beets to the Ginn site. In Wyoming, the Roach receiving station will not open, and those beets will be delivered to the Torrington factory yard.

As sugar beet growers prepare for harvest, dry edible bean producers have been at the process for more than a week, and are about 40 percent complete. So far, yields throughout the area appear to be about average, at approximately 40 bushels an acre.

Dean Larson, manager at the Northern Feed and Bean receiving station in Torrington, Wyo., said moisture has been the biggest problem this year. With a late start at harvest, growers are pushing the limits on moisture to get the crop out of the field. Larson said 14 percent moisture is about as high as they will take beans for storage.

"They are nervous and are pushing to get the crop out," Larson said Friday afternoon. "With good grower prices, they want to get them out as quick as they can, and they're willing to take more tare to do it."

The 2008 dry bean harvest was about two weeks late getting started, and some growers are three weeks behind. Larson said there are still a lot of green beans in the fields, so he expects harvest to drag out for those growers, even beyond mid-October when most should be finished. It all depends on the weather, which has been very cooperative this past week, and is expected to be favorable into next week.

Hot dry days have also made it possible for alfalfa producers to pretty well wrap up third cutting, as well. The wind about a week ago caused some damage, but depending on where the storms hit, producers are satisfied with the yield and the prices.

Corn harvest is still waiting on a good freeze, although chopping is about complete. Other crops, such as millet, are now waiting their turn with the combines.