Harvesting & Storage

Beets should be handled as gently as possible to remove soil and trash to minimize beet breakage and bruising. The way sugarbeets are handled in harvesting and piling operations has a very significant effect on the sugarbeets ability to keep long-term in storage piles.

Harvest equipment should be in top notch condition before harvest.  Adjust and maintain equipment throughout.

Reminders for Reducing Pile Losses

1. Do not top ahead - topped beets are more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures and will not keep well in storage piles.
2. Frozen beets do not keep in storage piles. When hard freezes occur, harvest will be stopped until frost is drawn out of the beets.
3. Delivery will be restricted if temperatures of beets exceed 50F.
4. Weeds and tops restrict air flow in the piles and cause spoilage.
5. Beets must be properly topped and weed-free when delivered.
6. Caution should be taken to avoid beet breakage. Higher pile losses are caused by higher respiration of broken beets. To reduce breakage you should:
   • Use properly adjusted equipment - sharpen when necessary.
   • Use proper machine operating speeds - defoliator - top saver - digger.
   • Stay on the row. Tractors break beets. Puller wheels cut beets. Height adjustment of scalpers and defoliators is incorrect if you are not on the row.
   • Be very careful when "opening up" a field: trucks bread beets -- loaded trucks break a lot of beets. Consider using a cart to open up.
   • Be very careful while filling trucks. Avoid dropping beets onto hard floors. Build loads on a pile. Don't drop beets further than necessary.
7. Defoliation - the setting of the topper can only be decided in the field. Determining influences will be the plant population, regularity of stand and variations in the height of crowns above soil level. Optimum results will occur when the proper balance is maintained between harvesting all of the salable root and removing all of hate foliage necessary to ensure efficient factory processing.

Removal of Tare Dirt

1. Tare dirt must not be put back on the field. Tare dire is a known vehicle for the introduction of diseases, such as cyst nematode, root maggot, Rhizoctonia, Rhizomania and weed seeds into a field.

Safety Procedures

1. Have all equipment in good working condition. Inspect equipment daily and repair minor problems before they become major set-backs.
2. Instruct operators of all equipment on how to operate that piece of equipment properly and safely.
3. Instruct drivers to operate trucks in a safe manner.
4. Instruct drivers to be watchful for personnel on the pile ground.
5. When making adjustments to pullers and topper, make sure the equipment is shut off.
6. Do not wear loose clothing around moving parts.
7. Always think Safety.