POWELL, Wyo. (AP) -- Western Sugar Cooperative growers in northern Wyoming are digging more sugar beets under the quota system that has been in place since a hard freeze damaged the beets in early October.

Western Sugar officials allowed growers to dig another 1.2 tons per contracted acre.

That should provide about a week's worth of supply to the Lovell beet processing factory.

Officials say the beets will be processed right away because the freeze damage causes them to spoil earlier than undamaged beets.

Sugar beets that have already been harvested and piled are checked daily to be sure they remain stable. If the piled beets start to go bad, that could halt the new dig while piled beets are delivered to the factory for processing into sugar.

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Information from: Powell Tribune - Powell, http://www.powelltribune.com

Copyright 2009 The AP.