The 44th annual survey of weed control and production practices among sugarbeet growers in Minnesota and eastern North Dakota had a lower response rate than usual.

RRV Study Suggests It Might — Depending on Conditions

    A two-year Red River Valley study looking at the usefulness of sidedressing to correct in-season nitrogen deficiency produced mixed results.  Its bottom line?  The likely payoff — or lack thereof — depends upon the circumstances.  Here’s an explanation.

Hundreds of Innovations Shared During Its Quarter-Century Run

     While writing about the Hought brothers’ homemade stinger concept in this issue, I was reminded again of how many ingenious ideas have been conceived and implemented through the years by sugarbeet growers.  That sort of innovation has been — and still is — the rule, not the exception, as growers come up with ways to do things more effectively . . . and/or more easily . . . and/or at less cost.

     The Tibbetts brothers — Cody, Brock and Todd — are quick to emphasize that they still have a lot to learn about growing sugarbeets.  After all, 2012 was just their third year of raising this crop.  Plus, “our place is fundamentally a ranch, so it seems like the cows come first," quips Cody.

     Bigger may not automatically translate into better; but if and when the situation calls for it, adding some size can make a lot of sense.
    That’s Chris Hong’s philosophy when it comes to planter capacity.  In the spring of  2012, Hong Farms, based at Buxton, N.D., used three 48-row planters to put in their sugarbeet, corn, soybean and edible bean crops.  The three Deere DB88 48R22s covered about 17,000 acres last spring, including 7,400 acres of beets.

By Robert Harveson

    Sugarbeets in Nebraska and other areas of the Great Plains may be affected by a number of diseases from all pathogen groups, including fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes.  Fungal diseases are commonly encountered causing leaf spots (Cercospora, Phoma, and Alternaria), root rots (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Aphanomyces,).  Bacteria are generally less problematic in this region but can cause both foliar blights, leaf spots (bacterial leaf spot) and root rots (bacterial vascular necrosis and rot – formally Erwinia root rot).  Both viruses (rhizomania and beet soilborne mosaic) and nematodes (sugar cyst and false root-knot) commonly are found residing in soils, resulting in root disease problems.

     Duane Grant is Snake River Sugar Company’s second chairman, succeeding Terry Ketterling of Mountain Home, Idaho, who served in that capacity from 1996 (the year SRSC was established) until 2009.  Grant joined the SRSC board in 2003, so he had an inside familiarity with the cooperative’s workings prior to taking over the chairmanship.  Still, he admits to seeing some things in a new light since becoming chairman.