Sugar beets have to be harvested and stockpiled in September because they have to get the root out of the ground before the ground freezes
Sugar beets are harvested with two primary pieces of equipment
The defoliator removes the green leaves and slices a slab from the top of the sugar beet root
This removed slab is the growing point of the sugar beet and contains high levels of impurities, which impede the factories ability to extract the sugar from the remainder of the harvested root
The sugar beet root is then harvested with a pinch wheel harvester, which pinches the root and lifts from the soil
The sugar beet harvester also separates some soil and conveys the sugar beet into a truck to be transported to a receiving station
