First, it was too hot.

Then the rains forced a wet-ground slowdown, and the 2026 sugar beet harvest finds itself about a week behind in Western Sugar Cooperative’s Lovell factory district.

That’s the picture nearing the middle of October, but not a situation that has grower leaders fretting. The full blown harvest began on Oct. 1 with all receiving stations in the district open and receiving grower deliveries. But the stations were forced to close early for several days as temperatures reached the mid-80s in the afternoons.

“It’s important that the beets are cooled down for long-term storage,” explained Heart Mountain grower and beet board member Ric Rodriguez. “Warm beets won’t store very long. We went from warmer weather to cool and wet, and the harvest slowed a few days.”

Moisture ranged from roughly half an inch west of Powell to nearly an inch in the eastern end of the district. 

“Lovell pile grounds were very wet, and there were limited deliveries,” Rodriguez said.

Through Monday, Oct. 12, one fourth of the 2026 crop had been harvested.

A more favorable weather forecast in the days ahead will allow the beet harvest to make up lost time, Rodriguez believes. He called the forecast ahead “ideal” to finish the harvest by the end of October with daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s and overnight temperatures in the 30s and 40s.

“Sugar content is averaging 18.1%, which is very good at this time,” Rodriguez said.

“Tonnage is about average, 27.5 tons per acre,” he added. “Not a boomer crop tonnage-wise, but excellent quality.”