With cold temperatures this past weekend and record lows Monday morning in Twin Falls, Burley and Jerome, Idaho, how might area farmers be affected?
As a result of an early cold snap last year, farmer Jeff Bragg says he believes most potato farmers have completed their harvest and won’t be impacted by the cold.
While those growing sugarbeets may still have a week or two of the harvesting process still to go, Bragg doesn’t foresee any major damage.
“[As far as] sugarbeets, looking ahead, for the weather for (the) Magic Valley, I don’t believe there are going to be any issues with it either. Actually, the cold that went in may have raised the sugar in the sugarbeets [themselves,” Bragg said.
Another farmer, Mike Buckley, said the cold could have a small impact on the beet defoliating process. However, he said it will most likely not affect beet quality to the extent of last year’s extended freeze. Other remaining crops like corn, alfalfa and bean are mature enough to avoid damage, Buckley said.