Rain across northern Wyoming temporarily halted sugar beet harvest operations last week, but growers remain confident they can keep pace with factory demands as the annual harvest ramps up.

"It’s going to get pretty muddy," said Ric Rodriguez, a grower with the Western Sugar Cooperative near Lovell. "But we harvest enough beets to stay about three days ahead of the factory."

During the early harvest before cool autumn temperatures really kick in, growers have to be careful not to pile up too many beets in the warm sun because those piles can turn to mush.

For optimal storage and processing, Rodriguez said the ideal autumn conditions are "cool and dry." With some beets sitting in outdoor piles for up to 90 days before processing, "We need cooler temperatures to keep them from deteriorati

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