KWS SAAT SE and Monsanto Company announced in October an extension of their partnership that will focus on helping U.S. and Canadian sugarbeet growers manage tough-to-control weeds. The new technology will seek to deliver tolerance to three different herbicides: glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba. The technology is expected to be commercially available in the middle of the next decade, pending regulatory approvals.

Combining the strengths of two industry leaders in plant breeding and crop management solutions, this announcement marks the second collaboration between the two companies and would represent the next generation of weed control technology in sugarbeets. KWS and Monsanto partnered on the initial introduction of Roundup Ready® Sugarbeets, providing North American farmers with a valuable weed management tool and resulting in the fastest adoption of any biotech crop to date.

Vic Jaro, former president and CEO of The Amalgamated Sugar Company, the nation’s second largest processor of sugarbeets, has been named the “Sugar Man of the Year – 2015.” Jaro, who had a distinguished career in the sugar industry covering 42 years, receives the coveted Dyer Memorial Award at a Sugar Club dinner in New York City on December 9.
Jaro joined Amalgamated Sugar in 1973 as a mechanical engineer at its Twin Falls factory in Idaho and later became plant manager. In 2002 he was named vice president of agriculture for the cooperative; and in 2006 its president, a role he held until he retired earlier this year.

Among his many accomplishments, Jaro implemented a five-year improvement plan at three of the cooperative’s factories that bolstered their strength and profitability. He also led an effort to modernize beet pile management techniques, which helped the cooperative avoid millions of dollars in sugar losses every year. An effort he led to demonstrate the value of utilizing the best agricultural practices resulted in significant increases in crop yields.
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Jaro played a major role in the introduction of Roundup Ready® sugarbeets and in the establishment of National Sugar Marketing, a joint venture with Sucden Americas that markets sugar produced by Amalgamated.

In addition to his company duties, he also served on the board of trustees of the U. S. Beet Sugar Association and as chairman of the Sugar Association.

A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he served as an officer in the Merchant Marine and Naval Reserve before joining Amalgamated.

Jaro is the 58th recipient of the Dyer Memorial Award, which is sponsored by the Sugar Club, an international sugar forum.

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Betaseed once again coordinated and participated in Progressive Agriculture Safety Day events in western Nebraska and the southern Red River Valley in late September.

The sixth annual event in Wahpeton, N.D., welcomed more than 150 students from area schools. Students participated in hands-on safety and educational training activities, learning the important essentials of many different forms of safety.
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The fourth annual event in Mitchell, Neb., welcomed 150 elementary students from the Mitchell and Morrill schools. Through hands-on safety demonstrations and educational training activities, the students learned the important fundamentals of water/canal safety, as well as ATV, fire, grain bin, electrical, drug awareness and bike safety.

The Progressive Agricultural Foundation, dedicated to supporting youth agricultural programs, is North America’s largest rural safety and health education program for children.

Also in late September, Betaseed helped coordinate and participated in its third Project R.E.D. (Rural Education Day) in Sandusky, Mich. More than 500 fourth graders from schools around the area participated in the event, learning about agriculture, sustainable food and general agricultural safety. Betaseed donated bike helmets to all of the participating students who wanted one.

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