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North Dakota sugar beet harvest gets early start
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American Crystal Sugar Co. is getting a

quick start in processing the Red River Valley's new crop of sugar

beets.

An early ``pre-pile'' harvest started Tuesday. It usually begins

Sept. 1. Company spokesman Jeff Schwartz says it's the earliest start to the

harvest in the cooperative's history.

About 10 percent of the beet crop is harvested during the

``pre-pile'' harvest. That allows the company's sugar processing

factories to get cranked up.

The harvest will get into full swing on Oct. 1. It takes place

in stages because sugar beets are piled up while they're waiting to

be processed. The beets can spoil if it's too warm, so the full

harvest doesn't get under way until fall.