What Is the Michigan Beet Harvest?
The Michigan Beet Harvest is a short-term workamping alternative for RVers. These vacationers assist the Michigan Sugar Firm, the third-largest sugar beet processing firm within the U.S., of their annual sugarbeet harvest. Michigan Sugar’s headquarters is in Bay Metropolis, Michigan, however processing crops are within the close by cities of Caro, Croswell, and Sebewaing.
Numerous jobs embrace tare takers, piler operators, particular tools operators, and administration positions. As soon as the harvest begins, shifts run 9 to 12 hours each day, relying on the situation and climate. Due to the short-term dedication and above-average pay, the Michigan Beet Harvest attracts in a whole lot of RVers annually.
When Is the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest?
The Michigan Beet Harvest happens each fall. Most workampers arrive the primary week of October for coaching. Following coaching, Michigan Sugar will determine when the harvest begins based mostly on the climate forecast. The 2023 harvest began on October 15. The beginning date, size of the harvest, and each day hours all rely on the climate.
Since Michigan climate is unpredictable within the fall, there could also be days when nobody goes to work or days when workampers solely get in 4 hours. The sugar beets should stay beneath a selected temperature, or they’ll begin to lose their sugar content material. When the climate warms up, Michigan Sugar can’t take truckloads of sugar beets, and work is postponed. However for probably the most half, the Michigan Beet Harvest runs anyplace from October 15 to November 15.
Is Michigan the Solely State With A Sugar Beet Harvest?
No, Michigan isn’t the one state with a sugar beet harvest. In response to the U.S. Division of Agriculture, sugar beets are additionally grown close to the Oregon/Idaho state line and in areas of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, western Nebraska, and southern California.
The Pink River Valley of western Minnesota and jap North Dakota produces probably the most sugar beets within the U.S. Some RVers work the Pink River Valley harvest previous to heading to Michigan for the reason that Minnesota/North Dakota harvest happens earlier within the fall season. Nevertheless it’s a really tight turnaround between harvests. Most individuals select one or the opposite.
The place Do You Keep When You Work the Michigan Beet Harvest?
RVers are supplied free campsites. There are additionally some resort lodging for workampers. Piling websites are situated in Albee, Au Gres, Bay Metropolis, Blumfield, Breckenridge, Caro, Croswell, Deckerville, Hope, Meade, Ruth, Sandusky, Sebewaing, and Verona. The accommodations and campsites shall be inside 45 minutes of a piling website. Some are inside strolling distance.
Not all campsites supply full hookups, however all of them have electrical energy and water. A honey wagon service is supplied for free of charge for campers with out sewer. 50-amp websites are uncommon. Most campsites have 30-amp electrical energy. RVers may also need to deliver a Y-connector as they’ll doubtless share water with a neighbor.
5 Execs Of Working the Michigan Beet Harvest
Most RVers work the Michigan Beet Harvest due to the short-term dedication and the opportunity of incomes a superb paycheck. We chatted with a pal who has labored the harvest for the final two years to get his perception into the professionals and cons of this explicit sugar beet harvest.
The Hiring Course of Is Simple
The hiring course of with Categorical Employment is straightforward. You aren’t employed or paid by Michigan Sugar. They convey in Categorical to deal with the method. If you need extra info or are prepared to use, go to the web site. A coordinator contacts you as soon as your utility is obtained and stays in touch till the harvest season.
Whenever you arrive in Michigan, you should watch a security video and undergo coaching earlier than the harvest begins. Every day of the harvest, the piler supervisors even have a security assembly with all workers. However apart from filling out the applying, there isn’t way more to do to be employed.
It Can Be Profitable
Most individuals work the Michigan Beet Harvest due to the money-making potential. The precise pay varies as a consequence of climate and extra time potentialities. However the beginning pay is roughly $18.50/hour.
Any time spent clocked in submit 40 hours, is extra time; which is paid time and a half. As soon as the harvest begins, for those who work 9-hour shifts for seven days, that’s 63 hours. The 23 hours previous the 40-hour work week is taken into account extra time. That is the place workampers actually earn their vital paycheck.
You may additionally be eligible for a season completion bonus. Should you don’t give up early, you’ll obtain 10% of your gross wages as a bonus in December. Even for those who’re launched early, which suggests the harvest ended ahead of anticipated, you continue to qualify for the season completion bonus.
All of those numbers imply that for those who signal on to work the Michigan Beet Harvest at $18.50/hour and work seven 9-hour days, you possibly can earn $740 for the primary 40 hours and $638.25 for the 23 extra time hours. That’s $1,378.25 for the primary week. Usually, the harvest lasts two to a few weeks.
It’s Brief-Time period
One other professional to working on the Michigan Beet Harvest is the time dedication. You don’t should spend months in Michigan. As soon as November 15 arrives, you’re free to move south for the winter. Most individuals don’t arrive earlier than October. So, it’s a short-term dedication that could possibly be profitable.
You Meet Nice Individuals
Our pal loves working the Michigan Beet Harvest due to the individuals. The climate and work could be soiled and tiring, however RVers from all around the nation bind collectively as a group. You hear tales of travels and meet individuals from all totally different backgrounds. It turns into a household of workampers who return 12 months after 12 months.
You Don’t Have To Pay For Your Campsite
Lastly, whereas you may get a reduced charge for a campsite at conventional workamping jobs, you don’t pay something to your website on the Michigan Beet Harvest. No pay is deducted. You don’t pay for the honey wagon service or pay an electrical invoice. For probably the most half, the one bills are gasoline and groceries.
5 Cons Of Working the Michigan Beet Harvest
However the Michigan Beet Harvest isn’t for everybody. We are able to’t stress this sufficient. The work requires you to be in your toes for hours at a time. The climate could be chilly, wet, snowy, and windy. And also you’re not assured to make a sure sum of money. Let’s take a look at a number of the reason why you may determine this workamping alternative isn’t best for you.
It Can (Not) Be Profitable
When you may go residence with $3,000 in simply a few weeks, you possibly can additionally go residence with $2,000 if the harvest is minimize quick or the climate prevents you from working. For some individuals, this simply isn’t value it. The “thumb” of Michigan isn’t precisely close to any large vacationer sights. We wouldn’t recommend driving throughout the nation except you’re already within the Midwest or East. With out the assure of a sure sum of money, it could be greatest to seek out one thing else.
It’s Brief-Time period
Should you’re on the lookout for one thing long-term, the Michigan Beet Harvest isn’t best for you. Some individuals work for the summer season in Michigan after which drive to one of many piling areas in October. This works out effectively for them earlier than they head south for the winter. However if you would like a three- or four-month gig, don’t apply to work the harvest.
The Climate Is Unpredictable
As a result of the climate is unpredictable, you don’t know the way a lot cash you’ll actually make. If the temperature will get too heat, the harvest ceases for a day or longer as a result of the sugar beets will go dangerous. This will sound unusual, however there are days when the temperature will stand up to 60-65 levels in Michigan in October.
Conversely, working outdoors could be very uncomfortable when the wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and the temperatures are freezing. Our pal mentioned there was little or no sunshine this final harvest season. They’d a lot of rain however nonetheless needed to work in the course of the poor climate.
It’s Not Handy If Not Close to Michigan
As we talked about, the Michigan Beet Harvest might not be value it for those who’re not already on this space of the U.S. It’s not in the course of the nation or in a heat local weather state the place you may spend the winter. Should you’re heading to southern Arizona or the Florida Keys for the winter, it’s an extended drive after the harvest. Simply the gasoline prices may make the workamping gig not value it.
Not Assured Full Hookups
Lastly, RVers aren’t assured full hookups or 50-amp websites. For some individuals, this can be a deal breaker. They don’t like a honey wagon service pulling their valves. They don’t need to be caught monitoring electrical energy utilization on a 30-amp breaker.
There are additionally only a few facilities. You’ll need to look elsewhere for those who’re on the lookout for a cushty stick with a heated pool, on-site laundry, and a playground for the children. You’re in Michigan to work. So hold that in thoughts for those who deliver a partner or children.
How Do I Apply To Work the Michigan Beet Harvest?
Making use of for the Michigan Beet Harvest is straightforward. Go to the web site to fill out the applying and watch for the coordinator to succeed in out. You probably have any questions, you’re additionally welcome to contact the Michigan Beet Harvest program instantly or go to their FAQ web page!
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Learn concerning the 5 Greatest RV Parks in Ann Arbor, MI earlier than making your drive out to Michigan!
Is the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest Price It?
Solely you may decide if the Michigan Beet Harvest is value it. It’s a distinct expertise yearly. The climate is totally different; the persons are totally different; the piling websites are totally different. This 12 months, the Caro campground had a number of households so the children may play collectively daily. This was a a lot better expertise for a lot of of these households than it will have been with out that group.
However the climate additionally didn’t cooperate. There have been a number of days with no work, which meant little extra time. So, whereas one 12 months could possibly be a bust, the next 12 months could possibly be very profitable. Should you’re within the Michigan space subsequent fall, wanting into making use of to work the harvest could possibly be value it. There’s definitely no hurt in asking questions and getting extra info!
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