Warm temperatures have challenged sugarbeet farmers in the Red River Valley as the full harvest kicks into gear. Steve Rosenau, vice president of agriculture for American Crystal Sugar Company, said farmers are limited to harvesting the sugarbeet crop in the morning.

If the beets are warmer than 55 degrees F, they cannot be stored long-term in piles. Many farmers have been shutting down in the afternoon heat and restarting as the temperature cools at night. The heat delayed the start of harvest season, so the harvest is now 40% complete. Heat is expected to continue to postpone the harvest this week, with the tonnage expected to be average in the lower 30s.

Rosenau shares there is an upside to the dry September weather. It increases the sugar content. The sugarbeets are now in the upper 18% range for sugar.

Read more on the Read River Valley sugarbeet harvest here.