Seed Company Leaders Provide Insights on What's in the Pipeline

    To date, the buzz about biotechnology within the sugarbeet sector has focused largely on Roundup Ready® sugarbeets.  First grown commercially in 2007 in north central Wyoming, Roundup Ready beet acreage skyrocketed the following year.  For the past four years, Roundup Ready varieties have been planted on around 95% of total U.S. (and Canadian) sugarbeet acreage as growers have embraced the benefits for their individual farming operations.

 
 
    Luther Markwart focused on “take home” messages in his summary remarks toward the conclusion of this year’s American Sugarbeet Growers Association annual meeting.  “What do we tell our growers? What do we do as leaders of this industry?” ASGA’s longtime executive vice president asked the local and regional grower association leaders in attendance.

 
 
Keen Interest in Technology, Strong Business Sense &
Passion for Ag Drive Snake River Sugar’s Chairman

 
 
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Russ Mauch - Photo By Don Lilleboe
     The current president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Barney, N.D., producer Russ Mauch, touched upon several key areas of ASGA priority and activity during his commentary toward the conclusion of the group’s 2011 annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz.  A significant portion of his remarks dealt with biotech issues — specifically, the long and ongoing litigation regarding the availability of Roundup Ready® sugarbeets for 2011 and beyond.  Below are excerpts from Mauch’s presentation.