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Tough year for sugarbeets in west-central Minnesota

A sugarbeet farmer in west-central Minnesota says this has been a tough growing season.

Kyle Peterson of Murdock tells Brownfield planting was delayed by cold and wet conditions.

“And we’ve had excessive rain (since).  Guys have literally had fields die, where they have portions of the field that are gone.”

He says disease pressure is intensifying.

“We’re starting to see leaf spot show up in sugarbeets, so we hope guys are staying really diligent with spraying them.”

Peterson expects the sugar beet harvest to begin in late August or early September, which is two to three weeks later than normal.