ARCHIVED FEATURE ARTICLES

New Cane Sugar Refinery Being Built in Louisiana

Imperial Sugar Company of Sugar Land, Texas, Sugar Growers and Refiners (“SUGAR”), Inc., of Breaux Bridge, La., and Minneapolis-based Cargill, Inc., announced on November 19 the completion of a joint venture agreement that will lead to the construction of a new sugar refinery at Gramercy, La.

January 06, 2010

Beet History Comes Alive

The past came alive this fall for those interested in the rich history of sugarbeet production in western Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming. On the third weekend in September, the Farm and Ranch Museum at Gering, Neb., held its 13th annual Harvest Festival — and beets were the featured crop. About 2,000 people attended the event.

January 06, 2010

Limited Irrigation: Its Effect on Sugar Yield

By Dean Yonts , January 06, 2010

Nebraska Growers Pleased With Benefits of Strip Till

No sugarbeet-producing state had a higher percentage of its sugarbeet crop under a strip-till production system this past year than Nebraska. Roughly half of the state’s beet acreage was strip tilled this season, says Jerry Darnell, Western Sugar Cooperative’s Scottsbluff-based agronomy manager. That percentage is quite likely to expand in 2010 and beyond, he adds.

By Don Lilleboe , January 06, 2010

Walking the Walk: Richmonds Produce Quality Crops

Mike and Ken Richmond don’t just “talk the talk” when it comes to producing and harvesting a strong beet crop; they “walk the walk,” too.

August 26, 2009

'08 Insecticide Use Estimate

About 600,000 acres of U.S. sugarbeets were treated with an insecticide during the 2008 growing season at a total cost to growers of approximately $15 million.

April 30, 2009

All Eyes on USDA Over Sugar Import Decision

Under the 2008 farm bill, April 1 was the first day of the year that USDA could tinker with foreign sugar import quotas.

April 30, 2009

Florida Sugarcane Land Sale Terms Amended

The agreement under which United States Sugar Corporation (USSC) would sell about 187,000 acres of its holdings along the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has been revised.

April 30, 2009

Utilizing a 'Cutoff Ratio' to Fine-Tune Furrow Irrigations

Gravity irrigation, by its nature, is somewhat inefficient. Runoff and deep percolation are realities that furrow irrigators must manage to keep irrigation application costs at a minimum. Application efficiency for furrow irrigation depends on soil type, slope and texture, but is often in the range of 50%.

By C. Dean Yonts , April 30, 2009

Zone Tillage for Beet Production in Alberta

In southern Alberta, reduced tillage in sugarbeet fields has contributed to improved control of wind erosion and, correspondingly, better plant stands and yields. As in various U.S. beet areas, Alberta growers have become increasingly interested in the use of zone (strip) tillage** for this purpose.

By Peter Regitnig & Bryan Avison , April 30, 2009

30 Years Ago / Excerpts from the March 1979 Issue

U&I, Inc., Washington Growers Agree on Terms, Conditions of Possible Takeover — “U and I Incorporated and Washington Sugar Company have announced agreement in principle for sale of U and I sugar factories at Moses Lake and Toppenish, Washington, to the newly formed grower cooperative. . . .

April 09, 2009

Food Manufacturers Need U.S. Sugar Producers, Sugar Policy

Be careful what you wish for. That was the warning to food manufacturers in a new study released in February by the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) about the importance of domestic sugar producers.  

April 09, 2009

Idaho ARS Study Compares Strip Till With Other Regimens

Though he is well aware of the extensive research conducted by USDA-ARS colleagues at Sidney, Mont., on sugarbeets in a strip-till system, Dave Tarkalson believes there’s a need for strip-till work in Idaho as well. That’s why the research soil scientist, based at the ARS Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Laboratory near Kimberly, initiated studies in the fall of 2007.

By Don Lilleboe , April 09, 2009

Water, Water

Without irrigation water, the Imperial Valley would be what it was in the 19th century: a desert. But the Colorado River provides the aqueous sustenance by which nearly 500,000 Imperial Valley acres are irrigated. The valley receives its water via the All-American Canal, whose 82-mile-long run starts at the Imperial Dam on the Colorado. Within the Imperial Valley, three main canals — the East Highline, Central Main and Westside Main — receive water from the All-American and distribute it through more than 3,000 miles of canals and drains. The system makes the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) the largest in the nation.

By Don Lilleboe , April 09, 2009

'Nonstop Farming'

Like sugarbeet growers elsewhere, Von Medearis keeps a pair of gloves nearby during the harvest season. The difference is, the Brawley, Calif., grower puts gloves on to keep his hands from burning, not freezing.

By Don Lilleboe , April 09, 2009