V O L U M E 2 7
JUNE 2018
M O N TA N A
GRASS ROOTS F E E D I N G T H E F U T U R E T H R O U G H F A R M E R S U N I O N E D U C AT I O N A P U B L I C AT I O N B Y M O N TA N A F A R M E R S U N I O N
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MEMBER profile
IN THIS EDITION: • House Farm Bill is put to the test; NFU wants more protections for farmers • Students in Wolf Point learn the science beekeeping
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAID GREAT FALLS, MT PERMIT NO. 93
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A SUGAR BEET FARMER’S WAY OF LIFE
B Y LY N D S AY B R U N O E D I TO R
Sarah Rachor is a fourth generation sugar beet farmer in the lower Yellowstone Valley. This year marks her second year of farming full-time. She is now the primary operator of Fresh Hopped Farm. Sarah is married and has an eightyear old daughter. Prior to farming full-time she worked as a photographer and still photographs the occasional wedding. Sarah has experienced life off the farm living in various parts of the country with the ultimate goal of returning to run the farm. “I'm happiest up to my elbows in mud while I'm irrigating, or driving a tractor for hours. I get to hang out in my own little paradise, watch the Yellowstone River flow by as bald eagles fly around me. But most importantly I get to bring my daughter along for the ride. To play in the mud, watch small plants grow, and teach her that our food doesn't just appear at a store. At eight years old, she can already pick out what types of vegetables are in season, and why it’s important to search out local food.”
In Montana there are 120 sugar beet growers in and around the Sidney area growing 34,000 acres of sugar beets. Montana has two sugar beet processing plants, Sidney Sugars and Western Sugar in Billings. Sarah says the factories produce not just sugar from the Sugar Beets 101 beets, but also molasses and pulp Sugar beets look a lot like a tur- which is used for livestock feed. nip with large white roots. They are typically planted in May and Farm Challenges harvested in October. They grow The Lower Yellowstone River best on irrigated land. Sarah said As with any crop there are always 8 PAGE 7 farm makes growing PAGE Project PAGE and the5 & opening of the the soil type 6 challenges. Sarah said on the 2017 Arrowpeak Sneak Peek ofgrowing the Sidney Factory, formerly for ideal MFUSugars Sponsors Solar and weather can delay harsugar beet con- diseaseCamp theme 2017 Producers Holly helped provide ditions. TourSugar, & Ag has Technology vest. revealed! Conference the resources Fresh Hopped Farm Seminar has needed to grow. In addition to sugar beets the family grows spring wheat, alfalfa, soy beans, and have been known to experiment with canola, flax, potatoes, and carrots.
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