October 24, 1972
CONTACT: Be-rt Swarthout
406/245-31 l 5 (Bi 11 i ngs) or
Martha K. Evans
303/893-4784 (Denver)
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, October 26, 1972
Billings, Montana ... October 26, 1972 ... Sugarbeet payments reached record levels in the seven-state growing area of The Great Western Sugar Company, George E. Wilber, Jr., president, announced today. He noted that total cash returns to sugarbeet growers set a 67-year high of $104.6 million on October 25 when $8.4 mill ion was mailed to 5,000 growers in final payment for
.
their 1971 crop.
Sugarbeet growers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming received $0.81 more per ton for their 1971 crop beets
than for their 1970 crop. Total payments in the seven states, which include Ohio and Michigan, were $91 .6 million from the Company and $13 mill ion financed by a federal tax on the sugar
industry under the Sugar Act.
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October 26, 1972 ... Billings, Montana
"Of the $8.4 mi 11 ion figure, $1.4 mi 11 ion was paid to approximately 1,100 growers in the Wyoming-Montana district," said Bert Swarthout, district general manager. "The growers in this district received a final average payment of $1
.43
P-er ton on regular contract beets, or an average total payment of $18.82 for their 1971 crop. Late delivery beets received a final payment of $0.80 per ton, or an ave rage tot a 1 payment of $11 . 77. 11"Excellent prices for sugar and above average beet yields per acre contributed to the record payments,i1 Wilber commented . . He added that the 1972 crop now being harvested looks good, and if sugar prices continue strong, next year could be another fine year for Great Western Sugar growers and the Company.
