Around The Industry

ASA Issues Statement Upon Senate’s Vilsack Confirmation

Following the U.S. Senate’s January 20 vote to approve former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Sugar Alliance released the following statement applauding Secretary Vilsack’s confirmation:

“America’s sugar producers congratulate Secretary Vilsack on his confirmation, and we are pleased that President Obama selected a secretary from a state with a proud farming tradition. Sugar farmers have a lot in common with Iowa growers, and we all have the same goal: to provide America with an affordable and safe food supply while making a decent living.   “While sugar producers have not had much interaction with the new secretary in the past, we are looking forward to meeting with him and working together closely in the future. We anticipate having a good relationship with the Obama Administration because President Obama has shown that he clearly understands the issues facing agriculture today and knows the importance of maintaining a strong sugar industry.”

ASA noted that during the confirmation process, Vilsack pledged to work with Congress “to establish policies that support sugar producers.”

Neher, Wenninger Join UI Sugarbeet Research Team

The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has appointed plant pathologist Oliver Neher and entomologist Erik Wenninger to its Twin Falls-based research and extension faculty.

Neher, a native of Germany, earned a degree in horticultural engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Freising in 2001 and a Ph.D. in plant pathology at Montana State University last year. In Idaho — where he will work closely with growers, processors and regulators — his responsibilities will focus on advancing the understanding and resolution of disease problems of sugarbeets, beans, corn, small grains, alfalfa and other crops. Initially, he will conduct trials to determine the interactions among chemicals used to control rhizoctonia crown and root rot in sugarbeets and will work toward an integrated approach to control rhizomania in that crop.

Wenninger, who conducted post-doctoral research at Oregon State University and at USDA laboratories in Florida and Washington, has experience studying ecology, behavior and management of insect pests in a variety of cropping systems. He earned his Ph.D. in entomology at the University of Massachusetts in 2005 and also holds a master’s degree in ecology from Idaho State University.

Among his duties at the University of Idaho, Wenninger will develop integrated pest management decision tools and management alternatives to high-risk insecticides for pests of sugarbeets, beans, forages and other important agricultural field crops.

Sugarbeet Institute Set for March 18 & 19 in Fargo

The 47th annual International Sugarbeet Institute is on March 18 and 19 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

It is North America’s largest sugarbeet trade show. About 125 commercial exhibitors are in attendance in booths and floor exhibits.

This year’s speaker on both days is Dr. Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University professor of agronomy and ag meteorology. He will speak at 1:15 p.m. on the 18th and at 10:10 a.m. on the 19th on the topic “Weather & Crop Outlook: 2009 & Beyond.”

Taylor is well known for his analysis of Midwest weather influence. He is widely recognized for his clear explanations of the complexities of long-term weather variability. His voice is well known from his regular Midwest radio broadcasts of crop-weather and other educational information. Taylor’s explanations of global warming, ozone depletion, the El Niño and other weather events and how they impact life and our economy are clear, insightful, concise — and often humorous.

Doors at the Fargodome open at 9:00 a.m. both days.

Michigan Bean & Beet Show Scheduled for February 17

The 2009 Michigan Bean & Beet Symposium & Trade Show takes place February 17 at the Horizons Confer-ence Center in Saginaw. The symposium/show has been held for more than 25 years, with the 2008 event attracting more than 1,000 producers.

The morning program, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is comprised of dry bean presentations. The afternoon’s sugarbeet schedule includes:

• Welcome/Introductions — Steve Poindexter, Michigan State University senior sugarbeet extension educator.

• “New Saginaw Valley Research Farm Update” — Doug Buhler, associate director of the Michigan Agricul-ture Experiment Station.

• “Keys to Maximize Recoverable White Sugar Per Acre” — Sue Martin, retired USDA-ARS plant physiologist.

For more information on the 2009 show, contact Steve Poindexter or Nancy Burd at (989) 758-2500.

RRV Beet Museum Looking For Old Harvester Items

The Red River Valley Sugarbeet Museum, Crookston, Minn., is seeking an owner’s manual and 31-tooth #80 drive sprocket for a Marbeet Midget sugarbeet harvester. The museum also is looking for information on the Scott-Urshel harvester and the Farm Handy two-row thinner. They are interested in manuals, pictures, parts — anything, including a whole machine.

Anyone able and willing to assist with these needs should contact Allan Dragseth at adragseth@rrv.net