SIDNEY, Neb.—The outlook for this year's sugarbeet crop is about 2 tons greater than previous year's output.
Duane Peters, agriculturist at Sidney Sugars, said the crop is expected in at 29.2 tons, just above the previous high of 27.5 tons, according to root samples. East of Sidney experienced inadequate weather, but he said if the right conditions come at the right time, it could boom as well.
"We're really excited about this crop," Peters said. "Come November, it's Christmas time for us. We get to go out and look at the results."
More good news for the industry is that sugar prices are trending up. Prices hit a steep decline last year when Mexico dumped low-cost sugar onto the market and wreaked havoc on domestic prices for the last 18-24 months.
Peters said the price rebound is happening slowly, but is a positive sign moving into the season.
While prices and crop size creep upward, Hans Schneider, plant pathologist at the research center, said he's continuing his research to combat Sugarbeet Cyst Nematodes.
The nematodes are parasites that kill sugarbeet plants. Telltale signs are yellow circular or oval areas and areas of poor growth.
Schneider said when he arrived in Montana from the Netherlands, there was a line of thinking that the nematode wasn't present. Not quite.
"They weren't aware there was a problem," he said. "We do have a Sugarbeet Cyst Nematode problem, and it's costing you yield."
Schneider said research shows a wider crop rotation helps. He suggests a three- to four-year rotation rather than a two-year rotation of wheat and beets.
He is also testing to see what plants are a host to nematodes. Canola is a host, but wheat, maze and corn are not. He is currently testing safflower as a host because results were not previously available.
"I don't suppose safflower is a host, but it isn't documented," Schneider said.
He'll do his tests and research during planting and harvesting season. At most, he expects the nematodes would cause a yield loss of about 30 percent.
Source: www.sidneyherald.com