Burback estimates that on a scale of 1 to 10, the damage was about an 8. It hit them hard. I think that changed a lot of people's mind about whether or not they'll raise beets again. The total amount of the 1999 payment had a negative effect on the growers' buyout, according to Burback. The sugars were low, tonnage was low overall and the price of sugar was low.
Beets are far and away the hardest crop to grow.
It's the first thing you put in the ground in the spring and the last to come out. Even with all the problems, Burback believes the industry is worth fighting for. We should fight to keep it here and a stronger sugar price will keep it a viable option. If the price were to come up, you'd see farmers doing a better job of raising those beets. We need to reduce the acres and do a better job of raising beets on those acres.