Have you heard of the Michigan Beet Harvest? If you’re a workamper, you likely have. But it’s unlike many of the traditional workamping gigs across the country. You don’t commit for months but rather weeks. This makes it appealing to many RVers who want to earn extra cash before heading south for the winter.
Today, we’re sharing the good and the bad of the Michigan Beet Harvest from the perspective of a two-year workamper. We hope his insight will help you make an informed decision about whether or not this is a good opportunity for you!
HOT TIP
Be sure to read Top RV Destinations for Fall before planning your trip to the Beet Harvest this autumn!
What Is the Michigan Beet Harvest?
The Michigan Beet Harvest is a short-term workamping opportunity for RVers. These travelers help the Michigan Sugar Company, the third-largest sugar beet processing company in the U.S., in their annual sugarbeet harvest. Michigan Sugar’s headquarters is in Bay City, Michigan, but processing plants are in the nearby cities of Caro, Croswell, and Sebewaing.
Various jobs include tare takers, piler operators, special equipment operators, and management positions. Once the harvest starts, shifts run 9 to 12 hours daily, depending on the location and weather. Because of the short-term commitment and above-average pay, the Michigan Beet Harvest draws in hundreds of RVers each year.
When Is the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest?
The Michigan Beet Harvest occurs every fall. Most workampers arrive the first week of October for training. Following training, Michigan Sugar will decide when the harvest begins based on the weather forecast. The 2023 harvest started on October 15. The starting date, length of the harvest, and daily hours all depend on the weather.
Since Michigan weather is unpredictable in the fall, there may be days when no one goes to work or days when workampers only get in four hours. The sugar beets must remain under a specific temperature, or they’ll start to lose their sugar content. When the weather warms up, Michigan Sugar can’t take truckloads of sugar beets, and work is postponed. But for the most part, the Michigan Beet Harvest runs anywhere from October 15 to November 15.
Is Michigan the Only State With A Sugar Beet Harvest?
No, Michigan isn’t the only state with a sugar beet harvest. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sugar beets are also grown near the Oregon/Idaho state line and in areas of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, western Nebraska, and southern California.
The Red River Valley of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota produces the most sugar beets in the U.S. Some RVers work the Red River Valley harvest prior to heading to Michigan since the Minnesota/North Dakota harvest occurs earlier in the fall season. But it’s a very tight turnaround between harvests. Most people choose one or the other.
Where Do You Stay When You Work the Michigan Beet Harvest?
RVers are provided free campsites. There are also some hotel accommodations for workampers. Piling sites are located in Albee, Au Gres, Bay City, Blumfield, Breckenridge, Caro, Croswell, Deckerville, Hope, Meade, Ruth, Sandusky, Sebewaing, and Verona. The hotels and campsites will be within 45 minutes of a piling site. Some are within walking distance.
Not all campsites offer full hookups, but they all have electricity and water. A honey wagon service is provided at no cost for campers without sewer. 50-amp sites are rare. Most campsites have 30-amp electricity. RVers will also want to bring a Y-connector as they’ll likely share water with a neighbor.
5 Pros Of Working the Michigan Beet Harvest
Most RVers work the Michigan Beet Harvest because of the short-term commitment and the possibility of earning an excellent paycheck. We chatted with a friend who has worked the harvest for the last two years to get his insight into the pros and cons of this particular sugar beet harvest.
The Hiring Process Is Easy
The hiring process with Express Employment is easy. You aren’t hired or paid by Michigan Sugar. They bring in Express to handle the process. If you want more information or are ready to apply, visit the website. A coordinator contacts you once your application is received and stays in contact until the harvest season.
When you arrive in Michigan, you must watch a safety video and go through training before the harvest begins. Each day of the harvest, the piler supervisors also have a safety meeting with all staff. But other than filling out the application, there isn’t much more to do to be hired.
It Can Be Lucrative
Most people work the Michigan Beet Harvest because of the money-making potential. The actual pay varies due to weather and overtime possibilities. But the starting pay is approximately $18.50/hour.
Any time spent clocked in post 40 hours, is overtime; which is paid time and a half. Once the harvest begins, if you work 9-hour shifts for seven days, that’s 63 hours. The 23 hours past the 40-hour work week is considered overtime. This is where workampers really earn their significant paycheck.
You may also be eligible for a season completion bonus. If you don’t quit early, you’ll receive 10% of your gross wages as a bonus in December. Even if you’re released early, which means the harvest ended sooner than expected, you still qualify for the season completion bonus.
All of these numbers mean that if you sign on to work the Michigan Beet Harvest at $18.50/hour and work seven 9-hour days, you could earn $740 for the first 40 hours and $638.25 for the 23 overtime hours. That’s $1,378.25 for the first week. Generally, the harvest lasts two to three weeks.
It’s Short-Term
Another pro to working at the Michigan Beet Harvest is the time commitment. You don’t have to spend months in Michigan. Once November 15 arrives, you’re free to head south for the winter. Most people don’t arrive before October. So, it’s a short-term commitment that could be lucrative.
You Meet Great People
Our friend loves working the Michigan Beet Harvest because of the people. The weather and work can be dirty and tiring, but RVers from all over the country bind together as a community. You hear stories of travels and meet people from all different backgrounds. It becomes a family of workampers who return year after year.
You Don’t Have To Pay For Your Campsite
Finally, whereas you might get a discounted rate for a campsite at traditional workamping jobs, you don’t pay anything for your site at the Michigan Beet Harvest. No pay is deducted. You don’t pay for the honey wagon service or pay an electric bill. For the most part, the only expenses are fuel and groceries.
5 Cons Of Working the Michigan Beet Harvest
But the Michigan Beet Harvest isn’t for everyone. We can’t stress this enough. The work requires you to be on your feet for hours at a time. The weather can be cold, rainy, snowy, and windy. And you’re not guaranteed to make a certain amount of money. Let’s look at a few reasons why you might decide this workamping opportunity isn’t right for you.
It Can (Not) Be Lucrative
While you could go home with $3,000 in just a couple of weeks, you could also go home with $2,000 if the harvest is cut short or the weather prevents you from working. For some people, this just isn’t worth it. The “thumb” of Michigan isn’t exactly near any big tourist attractions. We wouldn’t suggest driving across the country unless you’re already in the Midwest or East. Without the guarantee of a certain amount of money, it may be best to find something else.
It’s Short-Term
If you’re looking for something long-term, the Michigan Beet Harvest isn’t right for you. Some people work for the summer in Michigan and then drive to one of the piling locations in October. This works out well for them before they head south for the winter. But if you want a three- or four-month gig, don’t apply to work the harvest.
The Weather Is Unpredictable
Because the weather is unpredictable, you don’t know how much money you’ll really make. If the temperature gets too warm, the harvest ceases for a day or longer because the sugar beets will go bad. This may sound strange, but there are days when the temperature will get up to 60-65 degrees in Michigan in October.
Conversely, working outside can be very uncomfortable when the wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and the temperatures are freezing. Our friend said there was very little sunshine this last harvest season. They had lots of rain but still had to work in the middle of the poor weather.
It’s Not Convenient If Not Near Michigan
As we mentioned, the Michigan Beet Harvest may not be worth it if you’re not already in this area of the U.S. It’s not in the middle of the country or in a warm climate state where you might spend the winter. If you’re heading to southern Arizona or the Florida Keys for the winter, it’s a long drive after the harvest. Just the fuel costs could make the workamping gig not worth it.
Not Guaranteed Full Hookups
Finally, RVers aren’t guaranteed full hookups or 50-amp sites. For some people, this is a deal breaker. They don’t like a honey wagon service pulling their valves. They don’t want to be stuck monitoring electricity usage on a 30-amp breaker.
There are also very few amenities. You’ll want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a comfortable stay with a heated pool, on-site laundry, and a playground for the kids. You’re in Michigan to work. So keep that in mind if you bring a spouse or kids.
How Do I Apply To Work the Michigan Beet Harvest?
Applying for the Michigan Beet Harvest is easy. Visit the website to fill out the application and wait for the coordinator to reach out. If you have any questions, you’re also welcome to contact the Michigan Beet Harvest program directly or visit their FAQ page!
HOT TIP
Read about the 5 Best RV Parks in Ann Arbor, MI before making your drive out to Michigan!
Is the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest Worth It?
Only you can determine if the Michigan Beet Harvest is worth it. It’s a different experience every year. The weather is different; the people are different; the piling sites are different. This year, the Caro campground had several families so the kids could play together every day. This was a much better experience for many of those families than it would have been without that community.
But the weather also didn’t cooperate. There were several days with no work, which meant little overtime. So, while one year could be a bust, the following year could be very lucrative. If you’re in the Michigan area next fall, looking into applying to work the harvest could be worth it. There’s certainly no harm in asking questions and getting more information!
Is this a workamping gig that’s right for you?
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