Better Beet Seed.
         Better Revenue.

By: Associated Press, [L=http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/[The Connection Mid Michigan[EL]

MONITOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - The sweetest time of the year for Michigan's beet farmers is just around the corner.

The Bay City Times reports Michigan Sugar Co. is preparing for this year's beet harvest, scheduled to begin Monday with early deliveries from farmers.

Trucks will deliver beets from nearly 1,100 farms in 25 counties for the sugar producer's plants in Caro, Croswell, Sebawaing and Bay County's Monitor Township, where the company is based. Slicing will begin Tuesday and run through February.

Paul Pfenninger, the company's vice president of agriculture, estimated this year's harvest will be 3.7 million tons, second only to last year's record of 4.1 million tons.

The company predicts an average yield of 25.5 tons per acre, down from 26 tons per acre last year.