FARGO, N.D.—The 53rd annual International Sugarbeet Institute will take place March 25-26 at the FargoDome in Fargo, according to Mohamed Khan, the ISBI committee chairman.
Featured speakers at this year’s event will be Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota climatologist, on March 25, and Luther Markwart, executive vice president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, on March 26.
Doors open both days at 9 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to visit the exhibits, Kahn said, when the speakers aren’t doing their presentations.
“The commercial exhibit space is again sold out this year,” he said, “and exhibitors represent all facets of sugarbeet production.”
The show has developed into an event that brings together the sugarbeet grower and the allied industries. Over 120 companies will fill over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, with over $5 million worth of products and equipment on display.
On the opening day, program announcements and recognitions will be made at 1:50 p.m., followed by Seeley’s presentation “Evidence of a Changing Climate and Consequences for Agriculture.”
Seeley joined the University of Minnesota’s Department of Soil, Water and Climate in 1978. Since then, he has served as Extension climatologist and meteorologist, managing the Weather and Climate Education Program and doing research and teaching.
The show will close its doors on 5 p.m. on opening day.
The speaking program on the second day will begin at 10:15 a.m. with recognitions and program announcements, followed with Markwart’s address at 10:25. His presentation, “Sugar Industry Challenges in 2015: Trade, Congress, Politics and Biotech,” will look at some of the trials the industry faces in the coming months.
Markwart is a leading spokesman for sugarbeet producers and the U.S. sugar industry in Washington, D.C. He was raised on an eastern Michigan sugarbeet and dairy farm.
Questions regarding the 2015 International Sugarbeet Institute should be directed to Dr. Mohamed Khan, ISBI committee chairman, at (701) 231-8596 or mohamed.khan@ndsu.edu.
Source: www.farmandranchguide.com