Sugarbeet Feature Stories

Ten years ago, in the February 2005 issue of The Sugarbeet Grower, I asked weed scientists in several sugarbeet-producing states to select a single weed species that either (1) had become an increasingly serious problem for sugarbeet growers in their state/region within recent years, or (2) had the potential, in their opinion, to become one in the near future. I then also requested basic information on the chosen weed’s biology and recommended control measures.

The article, which proved to be a popular one, addressed the following weeds: kochia (by Robert Wilson, University of Nebraska-Scottsbluff), lanceleaf sage (by Abdel Mesbah and Stephen Miller, University of Wyoming), common lambsquarters (by Alan Dexter, North Dakota State University/ University of Minnesota), velvetleaf (by Don Morishita, University of Idaho), yellow nutsedge (by Corey Ransom, Oregon State University) and Powell amaranth (by Christy Sprague, Michigan State University).

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Growers and company personnel started the 2014 crop year with concerns about irrigation water availability due to reduced winter snowpack levels in most mountain drainages. Late-spring precipitation levels saved the day by filling most irrigation reservoirs and providing adequate river flows. Most irrigation districts had an adequate water supply for raising sugarbeets. There were 4,558 acres not planted to beets due to lack of water in respective irrigation systems. 

A total of 182,786 acres were contracted, with 178,461 acres actually planted. Due to difficult spring conditions, 15,172 acres of sugarbeets had to be replanted. Those replanted acres were a significant reduction when compared to the two previous years.

Growing conditions in the spring, summer and fall were conducive for good sugarbeet advancement. Minimal disease pressures associated with the favorable environmental conditions also helped set the stage for another record crop. In the end, the 2014 Amalgamated crop yielded a company average of 37.3 tons per acre and an average tare lab sugar content of 17.25%. The beets went into piles in good condition using the cleaner, cooler sugarbeet receiving guidelines. — Greg Dean


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