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The purpose of American Crystal Sugar Company’s Official Variety Trials is to provide unbiased evaluation of the genetic potential of sugarbeet varieties under real-world growing conditions. The data from these trials is used to establish a list of approved high-quality varieties available for purchase by our growers. The data also aids growers in the selection of varieties suited to their specific needs to help maximize return for the growers and cooperative.
Results from the Official Variety Trial sites were excellent overall. Planting dates ranged from April 21 to May 17 for non-disease yield trial sites; the Aphanomyces yield trial site at Perley was planted June 10. Stands in the trials were excellent at most locations. All thirteen yield trial sites were harvested and data used; twelve for variety approval calculations and one (Perley) for yield under Aphanomyces disease pressure. Most sites had ample to excessive soil moisture early in the growing season but were dry for the latter part of the growing season. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot was minimal in 2024. Revenue calculations in 2024 are based on a hypothetical $54.53 payment (5-year rolling average) assuming 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from naturally infested sites at Moorhead and Sabin, MN. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot ratings are from inoculated nurseries at Crookston, MN, TSC-S and TSC-N in Moorhead, MN and Saginaw, MI (BSDF). Aphanomyces root rot ratings are from naturally infested nurseries at Perley, Glyndon (Magno), and Shakopee (KWS), MN. Cercospora leafspot ratings are from inoculated nurseries at Foxhome and Randolph (KWS), MN and Saginaw, MI (BSDF) as well as a non-inoculated nurseries at Averill, MN and Forest River, ND. Root aphid ratings are from a field nursery at Longmont, CO (Magno) with ratings pending from greenhouse assays at Moorhead (ACSC) and Shakopee, MN (KWS).
2024 harvest conditions were dry overall, despite excessive soil moisture early in the growing season. The dry soil provided some challenging conditions for keeping pinch wheels deep enough without bogging down the tractor. Sugarbeet roots lifted well.
The 2024 data have been combined with previous years’ data and results are enclosed. Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2024 OVT trials. Conventional varieties approved for 2020-2024 sales are permitted to continue in 2025 sales.
These results and additional information for individual growing sites are available on the World Wide Web at www.crystalsugar.com. More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (www.sbreb.org). Additional data including individual yield trial results and agronomic procedures are also on the ACSC web site.
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Starter fertilizer (10-34-0) was applied in-furrow (3 GPA in 6 GPA total volume) in all yield trials. Counter 20G (8.9 lb/A) was applied in a 7-inch band after planting at all yield trial sites. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 47 feet with about 40 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. All seed provided by companies was primed. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with an Aphanomyces seed treatment, insecticide, and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet of each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than one inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup PowerMAX 3 with Class Act (surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were broadcast-applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Two applications of Roundup (25 oz) were made at the 2-4 and 6-10 leaf stages. Hand weeding was used where necessary. All yield trials were treated with AZteroid in-furrow at planting (5.7 oz) and Quadris in a 7-inch band during the 6-10 leaf stage (10 oz) for Rhizoctonia control. Treatments used for Cercospora control in 2024 included Inspire XT/Manzate Max, Agri Tin/T-Methyl, Proline/Manzate Max, Manzate Max, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff using 20 GPA and 75-80 psi.
Roundup Ready varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row plots with six replicates. The RR experimental entries were planted in two-row plots with four replicates.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one custom six-row harvester with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approximately 20 lbs) was obtained from each plot for sugar and impurity analysis. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services Quality Lab in Moorhead, MN.
Varieties were planted in nurseries in Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, and Colorado to evaluate varieties for disease and insect susceptibility. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
The 2024 Grower Packet includes the following information:
Download formats:
2024 Grower Information – Excel
Results from the Official Variety Trial sites were excellent overall. Planting dates were around ten days later than typical but stands in the trials were good at most locations. Eleven sites were used for variety approval calculations. The Averill site was abandoned due to very poor stand establishment from soil crusting. Several sites had moisture stress during the growing season, but rainfall toward the end of the growing season created some challenging harvest conditions. Wet, heavy soil along with some smaller roots at Humboldt, MN resulted in some harvest loss which increased variability and reduced reliability of the data, so results from Humboldt were not used in approval numbers. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot was minimal in 2023. Revenue calculations in 2023 are based on a hypothetical $50.09 payment (5-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from naturally infested sites at Moorhead and Sabin, MN. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot ratings are from inoculated nurseries at Crookston and Saginaw, MI (BSDF). Aphanomyces root rot ratings are from the naturally infested nursery at Shakopee (KWS), MN. The Red River Valley sites were too dry to develop Aphanomyces disease pressure. As a result, there are no yield results under Aphanomyces conditions for 2023. Cercospora leafspot ratings are from inoculated nurseries at Foxhome and Randolph (KWS), MN and Saginaw, MI (BSDF) as well as a non-inoculated nursery at East Grand Forks, MN. Cercospora ratings from all four sites were highly correlated, but ratings from Randolph (KWS) were not included in approval numbers as hail damage put an end to the plot in late July before severity of disease could increase. Root aphid ratings are from a greenhouse assay at Shakopee, MN (KWS). The Longmont, CO root aphid nursery (Magno) had high rainfall and soil moisture resulting in little to no root aphid pressure.
2023 harvest conditions were challenging at some locations, but beets dug well at most locations. Soil moisture levels were dry at the beginning of harvest, but widespread rainfall in late September made conditions more difficult at later harvested sites. Wet, heavy soil conditions at Humboldt would not allow the lifter to dig deep enough to get smaller roots present at that site leading to harvest loss.
The 2023 data have been combined with previous years’ data and results are enclosed. Bolter data is presented as the number of bolters observed at a location for each variety. Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2023 OVT trials. Conventional varieties that were approved for 2020-2023 sales are permitted to continue in 2024 sales.
More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (www.sbreb.org). Additional data including individual yield trial results and agronomic procedures are also on the ACSC web site.
Click here to open a pdf file with the following 2023 Grower Info:
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Starter fertilizer (10-34-0) was applied in-furrow (3 GPA in 6 GPA total volume) in all yield trials. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 40 feet harvested (25 feet harvested at Climax due to removal of gaps from a planter malfunction). Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with an Aphanomyces seed treatment, insecticide and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet of each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than one inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup PowerMAX 3 with Class Act (surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Two applications of Roundup (25 oz) were made at the 2-4 and 6-10 leaf stages. A third application of Roundup (20 oz) was made at Reynolds and Foxhome at row closure. Hand weeding was used where necessary. All yield trials were treated with AZteroid in-furrow at planting (5.7 oz) and Quadris in a band during the 6-10 leaf stage (10 oz) for Rhizoctonia control.  Treatments used for Cercospora control in 2023 included Inspire XT/Manzate Max, Agri Tin/T-Methyl, Proline/Manzate Max, Manzate Max, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff using 20 GPA and 75-80 psi.
Roundup Ready varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row plots with six replicates. The RR experimental entries were planted in two-row plots with four replicates.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one custom six-row harvester with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approximately 20 lbs) was obtained from each plot for sugar and impurity analysis. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services quality lab in Moorhead.
Varieties were planted in nurseries in Minnesota, Michigan, and Colorado to evaluate varieties for disease and insect susceptibility. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
The 2023 Grower Packet includes the following information:
Download formats:
Results from the Official Variety Trial sites were good overall. Planting dates were two weeks later than typical but stands in the trials were good at most locations. Nine sites were used for variety approval calculations. One site (East Grand Forks) was lost from wind damage that occurred in mid-June. Buxton and Climax sites were very dry for much of the growing season including at harvest. Beets were small and data at these sites were compromised by excess harvest loss. The Perley site had severe Aphanomyces and high variability. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot was minimal in 2022. Revenue calculations in 2022 are based on a hypothetical $46.80 payment (5-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from sites at Moorhead and Sabin, MN. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot ratings are from nurseries at Crookston and Moorhead, MN and Saginaw, MI (BSDF). Aphanomyces root rot ratings are from naturally infested nurseries at Perley, Glyndon (Magno Seed), and Shakopee (KWS), MN. The Climax Aphanomyces site had no Aphanomyces disease pressure. Although the Perley site had high levels of Aphanomyces root rot, non-uniformity across the commercial trial resulted in high variability, so there are no yield results under Aphanomyces conditions for 2022. Cercospora leafspot ratings are from inoculated nurseries at Foxhome and Randolph (KWS), MN and Saginaw, MI (BSDF). Data from all three sites was highly correlated with ratings from a non-inoculated leafspot nursery at Averill, MN. Root aphid ratings are from a greenhouse assay at Shakopee, MN (KWS) and ratings are expected at a later date from a field trial at Longmont, CO (Magno Seed).
2022 harvest conditions were good overall, and beets dug well at most locations. Soil moisture levels varied from dry to wet depending on the location. Dry conditions along with small beets at Buxton and Climax resulted in excess harvest loss leading to high variability. The Alvarado site was challenging and slow-going due to wet, heavy soil.
The 2022 data have been combined with previous years’ data and results are enclosed. Bolter data is presented as the number of bolters observed at a location for each variety.
Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2022 OVT trials. Conventional varieties that were approved for 2020-2022 sales are permitted to continue in 2023 sales.
These results and additional information for individual growing sites are available on the World Wide Web at www.crystalsugar.com. More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (www.sbreb.org). Additional data including individual yield trial results and agronomic procedures are also on the ACSC web site.
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Starter fertilizer (10-34-0) was applied in-furrow (3 GPA in 6 GPA total volume) in all yield trials. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 40 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with an Aphanomyces seed treatment, insecticide and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet of each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than one inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup Powermax 3 with Event (surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Two applications of Roundup (26 oz) were made at the 4-6 and 8-12 leaf stages. Hand weeding was used where necessary. All yield trials were treated with AZteroid in-furrow at planting (5.7 oz) and Quadris in a band during the 6-10 leaf stage (14 oz) for Rhizoctonia control. Treatments used for Cercospora control in 2022 included Inspire XT/Manzate, Agri Tin/Incognito, Proline/Manzate, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff using 20 GPA and 75-80 psi.
Roundup Ready varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row plots with six replicates. The RR experimental entries were planted in two-row plots with four replicates.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one custom six-row harvester (Big Red) with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approximately 25 lbs) was obtained from each plot for sugar and impurity analysis. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services quality lab in Moorhead.
Varieties were planted in nurseries in Minnesota, Michigan, and Colorado to evaluate varieties for disease and insect susceptibility. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
The 2022 Grower Packet includes the following information:
Download formats:
Results from the Official Variety Trial sites were good. Stands in the trials were generally very good this year despite adverse conditions for emergence. Eleven sites were used for variety approval calculations. Two sites were abandoned due to erratic emergence (St. Thomas and Caledonia). Rhizoctonia crown and root rot was minimal in 2021. AZteroid in-furrow, seed treatments, and one application of Quadris were used to control Rhizoctonia. Revenue calculations in 2021 are based on a hypothetical $45.65 payment (5-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from one Moorhead site. Rhizoctonia crown and root rot ratings are from two RRV nurseries. Aphanomyces root rot ratings are from the Shakopee nursery. The dry growing season was not conducive for Aphanomyces development, so there are no yield results under Aphanomyces conditions or Aphanomyces ratings from the Red River Valley for 2021. Cercospora leafspot ratings are from Foxhome and Randolph, MN. Root aphid ratings are from a greenhouse assay at Shakopee, MN and a field trial at Longmont, CO. Another set of ratings from a growth chamber assay at Moorhead may be added at a later date.
2021 harvest conditions were excellent. Soil moisture levels remained average to dry throughout the months of August and September creating good harvest conditions in all five Factory Districts.
The 2021 data has been combined with previous years’ data and results are enclosed. Bolter data is presented in plants per acre based on 60,000 seeds per acre. Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2021 OVT trials. Conventional varieties that were approved for 2020 and 2021 sales are permitted to continue in 2022 sales.
More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports (www.sbreb.org).
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 39 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with an Aphanomyces seed treatment, insecticide and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet of each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than one inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup Powermax with Event (surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Two applications of Roundup were made in the 4-6 (32 oz) and 8-12 (22 oz) leaf stages. Hand weeding was used where necessary. All yield trials were treated with Quadris in a band during the 6-10 leaf stage (14 oz) for Rhizoctonia control.  Treatments used for Cercospora control in 2021 included Inspire XT/Manzate, Agri Tin/Incognito, Proline/Manzate, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff using 20 GPA and 75-80 psi.
Roundup Ready varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row plots with six replicates. The RR experimental entries were planted in two-row plots with four replicates.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one customized six-row harvester (Big Red, new in 2019) with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approximately 25 lbs) for sugar and impurity analysis was obtained from each plot. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services quality lab in Moorhead.
Varieties were planted in nurseries in North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado to evaluate varieties for disease and insect susceptibility. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
Click here to open a pdf file with the following 2021 Grower Info:
Results from the Official Variety Trials sites were good to excellent. Stands in the trials were generally very good this year. Seven sites were used for variety approval calculations. Two sites were abandoned due to erratic emergence (St. Thomas and Hillsboro) and one due to water damage (Stephen). Three sites were used for performance of Aphanomyces Specialty varieties under Aphanomyces conditions (Climax, Grandin, and Perley). Rhizoctonia presence was minimal in 2020. AZteroid (in-furrow), seed treatments, and one application of Quadris (POST) were utilized for Rhizoctonia management. Based upon susceptible plot observations, root aphids were present in low levels at one site. Revenue calculations in 2020 are based on a hypothetical $45.12 payment (five-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from two Moorhead sites. The Rhizoctonia ratings are from two RRV nurseries. The Aphanomyces ratings are from Shakopee, MN, and two RRV nurseries. The Cercospora data is from Foxhome, MN; Randolph, MN; and Michigan USDA.
2020 harvest conditions were excellent. Soil moisture levels remained average to dry throughout the months of August and September, creating good harvest conditions in all five Factory Districts for all involved. With a slightly earlier OVT harvest start date and the benefit of our new harvester, the harvest completion date was earlier than previous years.
The 2020 data has been combined with the previous years’ data, and results are enclosed. Bolter data is presented in plants per acre based upon 60,000 seeds per acre. Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2020 OVT trials. Conventional varieties that were approved for 2020 sales are permitted to continue with sales in 2021.
These results and additional information for individual growing sites are available on the World Wide Web at www.crystalsugar.com. More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports.
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 39 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with Tachigaren, insecticide, and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet from each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than 1 inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup PowerMAX with Event (water conditioning agent + surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Hand weeding was utilized where necessary. All yield trials were treated with Quadris in a band during the 6-10 leaf stage (14 oz/acre) for Rhizoctonia management. Treatments used for Cercospora management in 2020 included Inspire XT/Manzate, Agri Tin/Incognito, Proline/Manzate, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff.
RR varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row, six replication trials. The RR experimental entries were planted in smaller two-row, four replication trials. Two applications of Roundup PowerMAX were made in the 4-6 (32 oz/acre) and 8-12 (22 oz/acre) leaf stages.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one customized six-row harvester (Big Red) with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approx. 25 lb. each) for sugar, and impurity analysis was obtained from each plot. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services Quality Lab in Moorhead, MN.
Varieties were planted in disease nurseries in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan to evaluate varieties for disease tolerance. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Root Aphid evaluations are included from Shakopee’s greenhouse and a Ft. Collins, CO, field location.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
2020 Grower Information Includes:
Download formats:
Results from the Official Variety Trials sites were good to excellent. Stands in the trials were generally very good this year. Seven sites were used for variety approval calculations. One site was abandoned due to erratic emergence (St. Thomas) and two locations were slated to be used for Aphanomyces Specialty (Climax and Perley). However, there was not enough disease pressure to warrant Aphanomyces Specialty evaluation. Rhizoctonia was not prevalent in 2019 compared to 2018 in yield trials. Seed treatments and two applications of Quadris were used to control Rhizoctonia. Based upon susceptible plot observations, root aphids were present in low levels at eleven (11) sites. Preliminary root aphid evaluations are presented in table 6. Revenue calculations in 2019 are based on a hypothetical $44.38 payment (5-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from two Moorhead sites. The Rhizoctonia ratings are from the RRV and Michigan with the USDA. The Aphanomyces ratings are from Shakopee. The Cercospora data is from Foxhome, MN; Randolph, MN; and Michigan USDA.
The 2019 harvest conditions were challenging and unprecedented. Soil moisture levels remained above average throughout the months of September, October, and into November, combined with snow and freezing conditions, creating difficult harvest conditions in all five Factory Districts for all involved. Taking the adverse weather conditions into consideration, our OVT Harvest Staff were quite fortunate to have completed harvest at seven (7) OVT locations – those sites included Argyle, Bathgate, Casselton, Climax, Glyndon, Scandia, and Grand Forks (Conventional Trial Only). OVT site locations remaining too wet for harvest and therefore abandoned were Grand Forks, Halstad, Hillsboro, Perley, and Northcote.
The 2019 data has been combined with the previous years’ data, and results are below. Bolter data is presented in plants per acre based upon 60,000 seeds per acre. More detailed information will be printed later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports.
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 39 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with Tachigaren, insecticide, and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet of each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than 1 inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inches apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup Powermax with Event and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Hand weeding was used where necessary. The micro rate program was used on conventional trials. All yield trials were treated with Quadris in a band during the 2 leaf (9 oz) and 6-10 leaf stage (14 oz) for Rhizoctonia control. Azteroid was applied at the plant at Casselton. Treatments used for Cercospora control in 2019 included Inspire XT/Penncozeb, Agri Tin/Incognito, Proline/Penncozeb, and Headline/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff.
RR varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row, six replication trials. The RR experimental entries were planted in smaller two-row, four replication trials. Two applications of Roundup were made in the 4-6 (32 oz) and 8-12 (22 oz) leaf stages.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. New in 2019, harvest was performed with one customized six-row harvester (Big Red) with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approx. 25 lb.) for sugar and impurity analysis was obtained from each plot. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services quality lab in Moorhead.
Varieties were planted in disease nurseries in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan to evaluate varieties for disease tolerance.
ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.
2019 Grower Information Includes:
Download formats:
