Sugarbeet Feature Stories

Keven Keller is part of that very small fraternity known as “No-Till Sugarbeet Growers.” Nearly all of the Worland, Wyo., producer’s 2014 beet acreage is no-till. This season’s crop follows on the heels of a very successful initial no-till beet experience in 2013.

Keller remembers specifically when and why he decided to give no-till beets a shot. The harvesting of one of his 2011 corn fields left a lot of ruts – especially in one field corner where the ground was heavier. “I worked it eight or nine times in order to get a good seedbed [for the next year’s beets]; that’s a horrendous expense. Then I planted and we irrigated. And when I harvested, those beets yielded 10-plus tons less [than the remainder of the field]. So it (trying no-till) became a ‘no-brainer’ for me.”

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Editor’s Note: When it comes to sugarbeet defoliators and harvesters, no one gets more feedback – 
and likewise is more familiar with the machines – than their manufacturer. 
That was the premise behind this article. 
We asked representatives of pull-type defoliator and harvester manufacturers to provide us with a series of tips to help optimize performance of their defoliators and/or harvesters. Some of their tips are obvious to any seasoned beet grower — yet still bear repeating; others may be ones growers typically would not consider. Some focus on preharvest machine prep; others on in-field adjustment and operation. 
A sincere “Thank You” is extended to these cooperating individuals and their respective companies.

The front cover photo of the official guide for the 2014 Michigan Ag Expo is a beautiful shot of a sugarbeet harvest. The photo was taken by Christine Crumbaugh, a central Michigan custom portrait and landscape photographer. Christine and her husband, Clay, are partners in Crumbaugh Legacy, a sugarbeet, corn, soybean and wheat farm located between Breckenridge and St. Louis, in Gratiot County.

As soon as I saw that Ag Expo cover, I contacted Christine to see if we might share some of her sugarbeet-focused photos with our readers. She graciously concurred, and I know our readers throughout North America will enjoy the (copyrighted) selections on these pages. (Credit for the photo of the Crumbaugh family goes to her friend, Miranda Parker.)


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In Michigan, Rhizoctonia root and crown rot is the most prevalent root disease in sugarbeet production. This disease in significant quantities will reduce tonnage, sugar content and can affect pile storage. Implementing the proper control management strategy can pay great dividends. 

Generally, late August or early September is an excellent time to evaluate potential yield, quality and income losses from this disease. New strategies may need to be implemented for next year if assessment shows an economic loss. losses from this disease. New strategies may need to be implemented for next year if assessment shows an economic loss.

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