The Sugarbeet Grower Magazine April / May 2010 by Forum Communications Printing

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Hilleshög is a business unit of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. HILLESHÖG®, the ALLIANCE FRAME, the HILLESHÖG logo, the PURPOSE ICON and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. ©2010 Syngenta Seeds, Inc. Longmont, CO 80501. All rights reserved.

‘Serving The Nation’s Sugarbeet Community Since 1963’ Volume 49 Number 4 April/May 2010

Page 4 Sugar Publications 4601 16th Ave. N. Fargo, ND 58102 Phone: (701) 476-2111 Fax: (701) 476-2182 E-Mail: sugar@forumprinting.com Web Site: www.sugarpub.com Publisher: Sugar Publications General Manager & Editor: Don Lilleboe Advertising Manager: Heidi Wieland (701) 476-2003 Graphics: Forum Communications Printing

The Sugarbeet Grower is published six times annually (January, February, March, April/May, July/August, November/December) by Sugar Publications, a division of Forum Communications Printing. North American sugarbeet producers receive the magazine on a complimentary basis. Annual subscription rates are $12.00 domestic and $18.00 for foreign subscribers. Advertising in The Sugarbeet Grower does not necessarily imply endorsement of a particular product or service by the publisher.

Page 14

— Feature Articles — Rhizoctonia Demands More Attention In Upper Midwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fewer small grain acres a reason for disease growth

Rhizoctonia in Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Update on research & recommendations

Sugar in Mexico: An Industry Overview . . . . . . . . . 8 Outline of size & structure of Mexican sugar sector

A Primer: Sugarbeet Breeding & Genetics . . . . . . 14 A layman’s look at the basics behind variety development

— Regular Pages —

— Front Cover —

Dateline: Washington . . . . . . . . . 10

A 2009 western Nebraska sugarbeet field thrives on a warm late-summer morning.

Roundup Ready, supply/demand, dietary

30 Years Ago

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Photo: Don Lilleboe

Excerpts from our April/May 1980 issue

Visit Our Web Site!

www.sugarpub.com

Write Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Auction Fever!

Around the Industry . . . . . . . . . . 18 Who, what & where it’s happening

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Rhizoctonia Demands More Attention in Upper Midwest

include: (1) the increasing presence of more-virulent strains of this disease, (2) the fact that common weed species (e.g., pigweed, lambsquarters) are good hosts, (3) very limited usage to date of chemical control options, (4) few good resistant varieties being available until recently, and (5) the presence of environmental conditions favorable to the disease’s development. As elsewhere, resistant varieties have become a key weapon for those Upper Midwest beet growers encountering moderate to heavy Rhizoctonia infections. For the 2010 growing season, for instance, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative approved five “Rhizoctonia Root Rot Specialty Varieties.” American Crystal Sugar approved 13 varieties for planting by its growers seeking good Rhizoctonia control. For growers whose Rhizoctonia problem is slight, the use of a resistant variety may be sufficient to protect against the disease, Cattanach suggests. But “if you have moderate to severe Rhizoctonia, you should be applying a fungicide in addition to using the special variety,” he notes. As elsewhere (see Michigan article on next page), Quadris® is the predom-

Expanded Soybean & Corn Acreage, Coupled with Decline In Small Grains, Adds to Level of Disease Incidence hough sugarbeet producers in western states have dealt with significant levels of Rhizoctonia crown and root rot for many years, the disease’s development as a serious problem in the Red River Valley and Southern Minnesota growing areas is a more-recent phenomenon. A key factor in Rhizoctonia’s “Upper Midwest expansion” over the past several years is cropping patterns. There now are fewer wheat and barley fields (nonhost crops) and more corn, soybean and edible bean fields (all host crops). That has translated into more disease inoculum present in

soils to threaten sugarbeet crops that follow corn or beans. “We think the number-one driver [behind the increased incidence and severity of Rhizoctonia] — if talking about the whole Red River Valley — is soybeans,” says Allan Cattanach, general agronomist for American Crystal Sugar Company. “Whereas corn and soybeans together probably make it worse in Southern Minn, Minn-Dak and the southern end of the Crystal growing area.” Other factors believed by American Crystal to have contributed to the increased incidence of Rhizoctonia

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!"#$%&'()*+,-.&'/!+0) THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Photos: Melvin Bolton, USDA-ARS; Mohamed Khan, NDSU/UM

Comparison of Treated & Nontreated Sugarbeets At Various Soil Temperatures Inoculated With Rhizoctonia & Not Treated With Quadris

80°

70°

60°

inant fungicide for Rhizoctonia control, though Proline® also has been shown to be effective on this disease. Last year, about 15,000 American Crystal acres were treated with Quadris. In 2010, however, the cooperative expects upward of 75,000 of its acres to have Quadris applied. Part of the reason is the increased incidence and severity of this disease; hand in hand with that was a significant early order/early pay discount offered this winter by the fungicide’s manufacturer, Syngenta Crop Protection. American Crystal’s recommendation is to band the fungicide on fourto eight-leaf beets as the soil temperature reaches 65°F. Neither Quadris nor Proline will be effective if they’re applied after infection occurs. “If you wait until 70 degrees, you’re probably a little late applying it,” Cattanach advises. “We think it has to be done by the time [the soil temperature] is around 65. “If you’re going to error in application timing, it’s better to go a little early rather than too late.” Cattanach adds that daily soil temperature readings from stations located throughout the Red River Valley (and Sidney, Mont.) can be found on the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) website: ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu. American Crystal also has a Rhizoctonia soil temperature advisory system on its website for each NDAWN station. ow effective are the fungicide treatments? In 2009 Jason Brantner and Carol Windels of the University of Minnesota’s Northwest Research & Outreach Center at Crookston tested various labeled fungicides and new products. They inoculated beet plots at either the

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Inoculated With Rhizoctonia & Treated With Quadris

50°

80°

‘If you’re going to error in application timing, it’s better to go a little early rather than too late.’ four- or eight-leaf stage and cultivated immediately after inoculation. (While cultivation is not recommended in Rhizoctonia-infected fields, they did so in order to throw soil onto beet crowns and incorporate the inoculum.) Harvested results from the fourleaf treated plots showed a recoverable sugar per acre (RSA) of 9,508 pounds with the label-rate Quadris treatment; 9,044 pounds RSA with

70°

60°

50°

Quadris at twice the labeled rate; and 8,583 pounds RSA with a Quadris/ Proline tank mix. The RSA for the “no fungicide” inoculated plots was just 1,922 pounds. RSA on the noninoculated plots averaged 8,496 pounds. With Quadris applied at the eight-leaf plant stage, RSA was 9,113 pounds. That compared to a “no fungicide” RSA of 4,533 pounds. The 2009 UM-Crookston research also looked at fungicide effect on conventional and Roundup Ready® beets. Brantner and Windels found no significant difference in the performance of Quadris in the two production systems. “Quadris and Proline provide excellent control of Rhizoctonia crown and root rot under both conventional and Roundup Ready systems,” they reported. — Don Lilleboe

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Rhizoctonia in Michigan Update on Research & Recommendations By Steve Poindexter ichigan Sugar Company has a goal to improve beet quality by increasing the co-op’s average sugar content to 19%. This goal is achievable, but it will take increased management and use of higher sugar varieties. Many of our new varieties have a high tonnage and sugar potential; but several likewise are very susceptible to Cercospora leafspot and Rhizoctonia. Left unchecked, both diseases can greatly affect yield and quality. By using the BeetCast leafspot prediction model and appropriate fungicides, growers are doing an excellent job of minimizing the impact of Cercospora leafspot. While Rhizoctonia is more difficult to manage, we also have made great strides in reducing its effect on yield and quality. Rhizoctonia management begins with matching varieties with specific fields. Sugarbeet fields with a history of high Rhizoctonia levels are not good candidates for planting of any highly susceptible varieties. In these fields, a Rhizoctonia-resistant variety is the best choice. Several varieties carry

Steve Poindexter is senior sugarbeet extension educator and Michigan Sugarbeet Advancement coordinator with the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service. The Michigan Sugarbeet Research & Education Advisory Council (REACH) recently published a bulletin titled “Management Guidelines for Controlling Rhizoctonia in Sugarbeets.” It can be accessed through the Agriculture link at www.michigansugar.com.

varying levels of resistance. Growers always need to remember, though, that “resistance” does not mean “immunity.” Michigan Sugarbeet Advancement research has shown that a resistant variety placed in a heavy infestation of Rhizoctonia may reduce infections by about 75% as compared to a susceptible check. Couple this resistance with an in-furrow or properly timed foliar application of Quadris®, and infections likely will be reduced by more than 90% while maintaining a good return on investment for Quadris. Fields that have not shown a history of significant Rhizoctonia are excellent candidates for some of the new high tonnage and sugar varieties. Many of these varieties are very susceptible to Rhizoctonia and almost always give an economical response to a Quadris application. For this reason, every Michigan grower is encouraged to equip their operation with the ability to apply Quadris either in-furrow or with a foliar band application. Research conducted in 2009 showed economic responses to a Quadris application ranging from $85 to $212 per acre in fields with moderate infection levels. Sugarbeet quality increased from 291 to 305 pounds of sugar per ton on the best treatments. This reflects an average improvement of 0.6% in sugar along with an improvement in clear juice purity. The 2009 research results on susceptible varieties were very similar to those of previously conducted Rhizoctonia trials. In-furrow T-band applications at planting generally provided the most consistent control. The

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label recommendation is 10.5 or 14.3 ounces per acre in a 7-inch band for 30or 22-inch rows, respectively. Sugarbeet Advancement research in 2009 suggests that in-furrow width and Quadris rates may be reduced by half and still provide results comparable to a well-timed banded foliar application. Growers who choose to reduce the in-furrow width should maintain a rate of 1.5 ounces per inch of band in 30inch rows and 2.0 ounces per inch of band in 22-inch rows. Do not dribble in-furrow or apply with in-furrow fertilizer, as emergence reduction and lack of efficacy may result. More research needs to be conducted comparing efficacy of narrow in-furrow band widths and rates to the standard 7-inch band. n the last few years, the standard recommendation for foliar application has been to apply 10.5 or 14.3 ounces per acre in a 7-inch band for 30or 22-inch rows at the four- to six-leaf stage. In 2009, foliar applications showed best efficacy in full-rate applications at the six- to eight-leaf stage. Rhizoctonia is a warm-season disease, and research in other states indicates that the infection period generally occurs when the mean soil temperature reaches 70 degrees at the 4.0-inch depth with moist soil conditions. Because 2009 saw a prolonged cool spring in Michigan, soils were slow to warm. This favored the later application of Quadris applied just before optimum temperature for infection. Research indicated that the two- to four-leaf application still gave a significant 51% control over the check, compared to 83% control at the six- to eight-leaf stage. Research also showed a reduction of Quadris efficacy when the foliar rate was reduced to the lowest labeled rate of 7.0 ounces, as compared to 10.5 ounces in 30-inch rows.

o an in-furrow and /or a well- timed foliar application of Quadris is important to effective management of Rhizoctonia. Quadris needs to be used in conjunction with matching field disease history with variety tolerance. Reducing in-furrow band width and rate by half appears to have efficacy similar to a well-timed foliar band application. In a 7-inch foliar band, reducing the Quadris rate from 10.5 to 7.0 ounces per acre in 30-inch rows reduced control. In-furrow applications in 2009 did not significantly affect beet emergence. Improved Rhizoctonia control will increase sugarbeet quality, yield and grower profitability. ■

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Sugar in Mexico An Industry Overview

By Peter Buzzanell exico is one of the top 10 sugar producers in the world. For fiscal 2009/10 (October/September), USDA was forecasting (as of early April 2010) production at 4.9 million metric tons raw value, compared with an average of 5.6 million tons the previous four years and 5.3 million tons in 2008/09. The forecast production is made up of over 3.0 million tons of standard sugar,

over 1.6 million tons of refined sugar produced at integrated mills, and a smaller volume of traditional mascabado/direct white sugar. Mexico is expected to harvest nearly 43 million (metric) tons of sugarcane from about 664,000 hectares in 2010, making it the second largest crop area in Mexico after corn. Nationally, yields are forecast to average 64.2 (metric)

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tons per hectare. That would be about 15% lower than the prior year, due to unusually cool, damp harvest conditions — especially in Veracruz. Sugarcane is one of the most widely grown field crops, with cultivation in 15 of Mexico’s 23 states. Sugar mills and adjacent sugarcane growing areas form an arc across central Mexico. Sugarcane agriculture takes place in lowlands on both the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts and in high mountain river valleys in central Mexico. While soils are generally fertile throughout the growing regions, poor drainage is a problem in some areas. Periodic winter frosts are a problem in some mountain areas in the more northerly growing regions. The overriding weather problem in many locales is insufficient annual rainfall. Drought conditions can be a major problem, especially in the leading producing state of Veracruz, which has insufficient irrigation facilities. The level of use of production inputs is another important factor in sugarcane output. Mexico’s land tenure system has a profound effect on its sugarcane production sector. The industry has about 150,000 growers possessing production units that average about four hectares (10 acres) in size. This structural condition inhibits the investment of modern technologies and hinders improvements in efficiency and cost savings through economies of scale. exico’s milling sector currently consists of 57 sugar mills operating as of the 2009/10 season and seven additional mills that are closed. The milling sector is characterized by a dichotomy of very small to relatively large mills, with a preponderance of medium and small mills. The sector is also characterized by a dichotomy of mills possessing modern technologies and those with obsolete technologies. The industry went through a period of financial crisis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as growers were not being paid for their cane and a sizeable segment of the milling sector faced bankruptcy. In 2001 the Fox Administration deemed that in the “public interest” it had to intervene — and expropriated 27 mills. Since then, 14 mills have been sold back to the private sec-

Peter Buzzanell, formerly head of the Sweetener Analysis Unit at the USDA Economic Research Service, is senior analyst at the Reston, Va., consulting firm of Buzzanell & Associates. This article is based on one found in the new 2009/10 U.S. Sugar Industry Directory.

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

tor or closed, leaving the government to operate, as of 2009/10, 13 expropriated mills. This action and the passage of the Sugarcane Law of 2005 has let to greater stability to the industry. For example, Article 58 of the Sugarcane Law states that for 2009/10, approximately 57% of the reference price of standard sugar (6,579 pesos per metric ton, or US $495 per MT) is to be paid to sugarcane growers. It is important to note that sugar is the primary agricultural industry in Mexico, directly and indirectly employing more than one million people. According to industry and grower groups, there are about 150,000 sugarcane growers, 100,000 seasonal sugarcane cutters, 20,000 cane transport workers, 30,000 factory workers, and 7,000 administrative, technical and management personnel. Of the growers, there are two groups — ejidatarios (communal landowners) and small private landowners. Reflecting the historical communal land tenure system and the land distribution system implemented following the Mexican Revolution of 1917, cane field and production units are very small compared with the United States. About half of the cane fields are two hectares and under, the other half are two to 10 hectares. Only a small percentage are larger than 10 hectares, according to Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture. Sugarcane growers are well organized, with the largest number of private land owners affiliated with the Union Nacional de Productores de Cana (CNC), i.e., the National Union of Cane Producers. The ejidatarios or communal land cane growers are largely represented by the Union Nacional de Caneros (CNPR) (National Union of Sugarcane Growers). Sugarcane workers are presented by two unions: Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Azucarera y Similares de la Republica Mexicana (STIASRM) (Association of Industry Sugar Workers of Mexico) and the Confederacion Regional Obrero Mexicana (CROM) (the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers). The salaried employees in the milling industry are represented by the Camara Nacional de las Industrias Azucarera (National Chamber of the Sugar and Alcohol Industry). exican consumption of sugar for domestic food and beverage use for 2009/10 is forecast at 5.0 million (metric) tons, compared with 5.4 mil-

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Mexico: Sugar Production & Supply & HFCS Utilization Fiscal Year (Oct.-Sept.) Sugar — Beginning Stocks Production Imports Total Supply Disappearance Human Consumption Other Consumption Miscellaneous Total Disappearance Exports Total Use Ending Stocks Stocks-to-Use Ratio HFCS Consumption (dry wt.) Mexican Sugar Industry — Cane Harvested (1,000 MT) Area Harvested (1,000 HA) Tons of Cane/Hectare Sugar Production — Refined Sugar (1,000 MT) Standard Sugar (1,000 MT) Mascabado (1,000 MT) Total Sugar (1,000 MT) Raw Sugar Equivalent**

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10*

- - - - - - - - - - 1,000 Metric Tons - - - - - - - - - 1,965 5,804 240 7,809

1,294 5,633 474 7,401

1,718 5,852 226 7,796

1,975 5,260 160 7,395

488 4,900 970 6,358

5,326 323 0 5,649 866 6,515 1,294 19.9

5,133 390 0 5,523 160 5,683 1,718 30.2

5,090 414 -360 5,144 677 5,821 1,975 38.8

5,065 475 0 5,540 1,367 6,907 488 9.6

4,600 400 0 5,000 490 5,490 868 18.9

667

698

782

653

1,200

47,290 659 71.76

49,026 664 73.83

48,305 668 72.31

51,000 668 76.35

50,730 664 76.40

1,831 3,626 18 5,475 5,804

1,845 3,467 2 5,314 5,633

1,702 3,810 9 5,521 5,852

1,665 3,297 0 4,962 5,260

1,479 2,728 416 4,623 4,900

* 2009/10 forecasts as of March 2010. Source: USDA & Buzzanell & Assoc. ** For raw sugar equivalent, USDA adds refined and standard sugar and multiplies by 1.06 lion tons the previous four years. Mexico’s population of about 100 million uses about 450,000 tons of sugar per month, with the largest demand coming from the soft drink industry. Lower expected consumption this season can be attributed to less consumer purchasing power and escalating domestic prices fueled by speculation and supply shortages. To supplement domestic production, Mexico is expected to import 970,000 tons of sugar in 2009/10 — mainly from the U.S. — compared with 160,000 tons in 2008/09, reflecting lower carry in stocks and aggressive export marketing to the U.S. market. For 2009/10, exports are expected to total 490,000 tons, mainly to the U.S.

Sugar is the primary agricultural industry in Mexico, directly and indirectly employing more than one million people.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an increasing part of total Mexican sweetener use. Mexico imports HFCS directly from the U.S., as well as producing it domestically (largely from imported yellow corn). Since trade has been fully liberalized under NAFTA, corn can be imported at any time. Mexico has two plants producing HFCS — Arancia and AlMEX, both located in Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. These plants use an estimated 2.0 million tons of yellow corn annually. Mexican farmers overwhelmingly plant white corn for human consumption and are resistant to change due to lower yields of yellow corn compared to white and difficulty in accessing quality seed. HFCS production for 2008/09 is estimated at 400,000 tons, dry basis. Imports of HFCS for the same period were 254,000 tons. Therefore, consumption is estimated at about 650,000 tons, dry basis, and mainly went to the beverage industry. For 2009/10, the level of HFCS use is projected to be up sharply, meaning a substantially greater import level. ■

Dateline: Washington Roundup Ready Litigation Since we are actively involved in ongoing litigation, very little can be written or discussed publicly about the case. A strong reminder is extended to all growers that no interviews should be conducted until this case is completed. While the judge rejected a request by the plaintiffs to stop the planting of Roundup Ready® sugarbeets for the 2010 crop, the focus of the court and the parties is now on the remedies for future crops. A very important factor comes into play in our case. On April 27, the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., will hear an appeal regarding the Roundup Ready alfalfa case. The beet sugar industry, in conjunction with the National Corn Growers Association, has filed a brief with the Supreme Court in support of Monsanto’s arguments in the case. A ruling by the Supreme Court is expected in June, which may clarify various issues for the 9th Circuit Court in regard to the pending

Roundup Ready sugarbeet case. Oral arguments regarding the permanent remedy for the sugarbeet case currently are scheduled for July 9.

2010 Acreage Intentions On March 31, USDA published its planting intentions report for the 2010 sugarbeet crop. Planted area is expected to drop by 9,000 acres — from 1,183,200 acres last year to 1,174,200 acres this season. Lower acreage in a stronger market clearly suggests that with adequate moisture to begin the season, we expect yields to be strong again this year. Our industry is running at full processing capacity; thus acreage must be modified to adjust for higher yields.

2008

U.S. Total

2009

2010*

2010/2009 Percent

26.0 33.8 131.0 137.0 440.0 31.7 45.2 208.0 6.7 1.6 29.7

25.1 35.1 164.0 138.0 463.0 38.4 53.0 225.0 10.6 — 31.0

25.0 29.8 169.0 147.0 445.0 42.4 46.0 227.0 11.0 — 32.0

100 85 103 107 96 110 87 101 104 — 103

1,090.7

1,183.2

1,174.2

* Forecast as of March 2010. ** Sugarbeet production estimates for Washington were discontinued as of 2009.

American Sugarbeet Growers Assn. vesting the 2010 crop in September. April 9 is the date for the next monthly estimate of supply and demand, and USDA is working hard to make sure it has the best numbers possible. Under the current farm bill, USDA may now add sugar to the market if it deems that supplies are needed and unrestricted imports from Mexico do not threaten to oversupply the market. In March, USDA identified countries that would not ship their quota and gave their shares to countries that could deliver to our market before September 30. The beet sugar industry’s view is that there is adequate sugar to meet consumer needs without more imports at this time. We continue to closely monitor the government’s actions.

Crop Insurance USDA’s March estimate for yearend carry over stocks was at 10.3%, which means the U.S. would have 1,075,000 tons (raw value) of sugar in the warehouses as we begin har-

– – – – – 1,000 Acres – – – – –

California Colorado Idaho Michigan Minnesota Montana Nebraska North Dakota Oregon Washington** Wyoming

Executive Vice President

Supply & Demand

Planted Sugarbeet Area, By State & U.S., 2008-10 State

By Luther Markwart

We are now in the process of collecting data for replant costs nationwide. Current coverage for replants is woefully inadequate, and we are working closely with USDA on getting the best data available to update those costs so better coverage for replants may be in place for the 2011 crop.

Dietary Issues There are a host of ongoing issues surrounding America’s diet — everything from updating dietary guidelines to what products may be advertised to children under 17 years of age. The obesity epidemic, particularly among our youth, is the top priority for First Lady Michelle Obama and the focus of the congressional spouses. Better diets and more exercise are the basic thrust of their focus. This clearly has many implications for sweeteners, and we are working with our customers to navigate our way through these issues. ■

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

30 Years Ago Migrant Workers Estimated at 6,000 — “This year an estimated 6,000 migrant workers will be needed by American Crystal Sugar Company plants for sugarbeet thinning and hoeing operations. “According to Richard Fitzsimons, executive director of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, the number of migrant workers has dropped in recent years. In 1977 an estimated 9,153 migrants came to the valley for employment. In 1978 the number dropped to 7,015, and fell again in 1979 to 6,750. “Although the number has been decreasing, Fitzsimons expects migrant workers will continue to come because many growers need migrant help for field operations. ‘We will be able to grow beets in a few years without migrant labor. However, I think we will always see some in the valley,’ he commented. “While many growers still prefer to employ migrants, particularly for weeding operations, some growers are planting ‘no-labor’ beets. These growers are using spaced planting, mechanical thinning and herbicide, Fitzsimons explained. “Jose Balderas, executive director of the North Dakota Migrant council, estimates 1,200 to 1,600 families will come to North Dakota this year for work. The majority of families, mainly from Texas, California and Florida, will go to the Red River Valley, and some to the Williston Basin in western North Dakota. . . . “Growers have set minimums for thinning and hoeing operations, with the first operation set at $30 per acre and the second operation at $19.50. The total becomes $49.50 per acre, with many farmers paying above those rates.” High-Speed Cultivator Designed for Sugarbeets — “The past two summers have produced an unusual sight moving through Ralph Larson’s sugarbeet fields near East Grand Forks, Minnesota. “While a traditional tractor towing a row-crop cultivator straight and true down the rows of young beets is far from uncommon, Larson’s cultivator provides the observer with a surprise. His cultivator is seen ‘bee-lining’ it through the field, and Larson doesn’t even have his hands on the tractor steering wheel, but is instead turned around to see how the cultivator is cultivating. “For two seasons now, Larson has been working with Clair Conn, a distributor of Brillion at Redwood Falls, Minnesota, to test out a new precision cultivator designed for sugarbeets. At first cultivation, it hugs the row close, cultivating at 2-1/2” on each side of the rows of seedling sugarbeets. “A special guidance system is what makes this a precision, high-speed cultivator.

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Excerpts from the April-May 1980 Issue of The Sugarbeet Grower

“Guide markers on the beet planter open up a pair of guide furrows in which the tractor’s front tires steer the tractor and cultivator through the field at first cultivation. Heavy guide coulters and markers on the cultivator reopen the guide furrows for successive cultivations. The guide markers, or stingers, are mounted by a special clamp on the rear of the backbone on as many gangs as desired. Four guide markers and two guide wheel assemblies are standard on this new Brillion BRP-1222 twelverow unit. . . . “ ‘The important aspect of the Brillion,’ says Larson, ‘is the parallel linkage unit. It keeps the backbone of the cultivator straight. It is made heavy and in such a way that there is no existing wobble.’ . . . “Larson could only cultivate at 4.5 to 5 mph with his previous cultivator, especially at first cultivation when beets are small. But with the precision cultivator, his minimum speed is 4.5, and at last cultivation he runs 7 mph or better.” ‘Fuel Beet’ Has Good Potential — “Sugarbeet breeders Devon L. Doney and J. Clair Theurer of USDA’s Science and Education Administration Agricultural Research, Logan, Utah, are in the process of developing hybrid sugarbeets for the specific use of making alcohol fuel. “In comparison to other plantings considered for production of alcohol fuel in the U.S., sugarbeets have the greatest potential. Presently, the easiest and cheapest means of producing alcohol fuel from organic material is to extract it from the fermentable sugars that make up 40 to 50 percent of a sugarbeet plant. Because of this potential, the hybrid sugarbeet has earned the name ‘fuel beet.’ . . . “With current conditions, sugarbeets represent a potential production of 400 to 500 gallons of alcohol fuel per acre at a net cost of $1.51 per gallon. While these figures do not make the fuel beet appear economical at this time, they do indicate that such production is within early striking range. . . . “Before fuel beets can make any type of impact on the energy crisis, improvement is necessary in all aspects of production of alcohol fuel from sugarbeets. The need for a new type of beet capable of yielding more fermentable sugars per acre than any present variety is mandatory. “Doney and Theurer are confident that their fuel beet will provide the necessary improvements. ‘We think it should be easier to develop a beet for fuel than for sugars,’ says Doney. ‘In breeding for a fuel beet we’ll be aiming at increasing sugar quantity in the beet without having to worry about the quality factors that affect sugar crystallization.’ ” ■

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Auction Fever! You know that spring is close at hand; The yard has turned to slop. The winter projects all complete Are stacked up in the shop.

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Spring fever hits and we resist But all to no avail. The only sure-fire antidote: Attend an auction sale. To justify an auction trip Around my house is tough. My wife is thoroughly convinced I have way too much stuff.

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“But dear,” I say in my best way, “Attending auctions ain’t a vice. I only go this time of year To check out a fair price.” “I have no purchases in mind. I only want to see, If that John Deere dealer late last fall Got the best of me.” She looks me right between the eyes; She has known me for too long. She’s sure I have no self-control; I’ve seldom proved her wrong.

By David Kragnes

Then it overcomes me, Though it’s not something I need. They’re about to sell it way too cheap; I buy it out of greed. Now it seems I’m on a roll, There is not a way to stop. Soon I own things for the house, The cottage and the shop. I see my banker watching me. That shuts down my rapid pace, And makes me think of going home, And the questions I will face. I can justify the nuts and bolts, But not the pictures of old actors. It’s for the best that I got stopped Before they sold the tractors. Now I had better load my stuff, It’s getting pretty late. To be an auction junkie Somehow seems my fate.

■

David Kragnes farms near Felton, Minn. He is a former chairman of American Crystal Sugar Co., and currently serves on the board of directors of CoBank.

So I dig out my auction clothes, And load the pickup truck. Put on my favorite beet seed hat, The one that brings me luck. I come to meet the neighbors, Have a donut and a Coke. To talk about the weather And hear the latest joke. Just to stand and hear the chant Is somehow very nice. But I’m curious about the sale, I listen for the price.

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

The fungicide you’ve always wanted is finally within reach. There’s no better partner for your sugarbeet disease management program than Inspire® XT fungicide. Trusted the world over, Inspire XT is proven to deliver long-lasting control of Cercospora leaf spot, powdery mildew and other damaging diseases. And as part of your overall spray program, Inspire XT can help sustain fungicide effectiveness and manage resistance. Top of the class. ©2009 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., P.O. Box 18300, Greensboro, NC 27419. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using this product. Inspire XT is not registered for use or sale in all states. Please check with your state or local regulatory agency before buying or using this product. Inspire® XT is a trademark and the Syngenta logo is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). www.farmassist.com MW 1TNV8021-A 2/09

Left: Beet seedlings in ‘conetainers’ await vernalization for rapid-cycle seed production.

potential impact of new technologies. Breeding new varieties is a timeconsuming effort — often taking in excess of 10 years before germplasm with new characters is available to growers in the form of new varieties.

Photo: Mitch McGrath

History of the Crop

A Primer: Sugarbeet Breeding & Genetics By Mitch McGrath rowers, agriculturalists and researchers are acutely aware of the performance of different sugarbeet

Mitch McGrath is research geneticist with the USDA-ARS Sugarbeet & Bean Research Unit, Michigan State University, East Lansing. This article is based on one appearing in the 2009 Research Trial Results booklet published by Michigan Sugarbeet REACH (Research & Education Advisory Council).

euro-Maus 14

varieties in their areas. All growing regions have seed committees and unbiased testing programs that evaluate and report upon the yield performance, quality and disease resistance of entered commercial varieties. Those coded trial results play a large role in many growers’ seed selection decisions. This primer is intended as an introduction to sugarbeets from a breeding standpoint. Topics include the history of the crop, the genetics of breeding and agronomic characters, and the

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euro-Tiger

Sugarbeet, one of the newer crops of significant economic importance, is a product of the Industrial Revolution in Europe. During the latter half of the 18th century, sucrose was discovered in the roots of red and white beets used for animal fodder. Subsequently, beets with higher sugar levels were selectively bred, measures for the cultivation of beets for sugar were described, an extraction process was developed, and the first European sugarbeet factories were constructed. Sugarbeet is classified as Beta vulgaris, which includes fodder beet, red beet, Swiss chard and a variety of wild forms found along European and Mediterranean coastlines. They are known as subspecies maritima types. Most Beta vulgaris types are diploid with 18 chromosomes in each cell (though some sugarbeet varieties are triploids). There are few or no barriers to cross fertilization among these types. The maritima types have contributed some of the most valuable disease resistances, including resistance to Cercospora leafspot and the rhizomania virus — and have the potential to contribute a great deal more. The majority of sugarbeet varieties grown today trace back to the early selections performed during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They probably originated from fodder beets grown in Poland from a type known as White Silesian. At that time, fodder and red beets were grown for animal feed and human consumption, a practice dating back to the Middle Ages. Leafy beets (similar in use to today’s Swiss chard types) were grown in the gardens of Babylon and ancient Egypt, and were the ancestors of all cultivated beets. During their early history, hybridization with wild beets undoubtedly occurred naturally. New types were probably selected from the progeny of those inadvertent outcrosses. But while a great deal of genetic variation exists within Beta vulgaris, the germplasm base of sugarbeet is relatively narrow.

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Sugarbeet is biennial. Vegetative growth during the first year is geared toward bulking storage reserves (mainly sucrose in the roots) for the following year’s reproductive growth. Sugarbeets behave as a perennial if flowering is not induced. Induction of flowering occurs after a period of cool temperatures and long nights — a process known as vernalization. Vernalization, can which occur at any time during the plant’s growth, can be problematic for growers who plant their crop too early, leading to plants “bolting” in the field, accompanied in turn by a loss of sucrose yield. In practice, beets harvested from selection plots are placed in a 4°C (40°F) cooler for 12 to 16 weeks to effect vernalization. Flowering commences within five weeks after removing the plants from vernalization. In most commercial U.S. seed production — which takes place almost exclusively in the coastal valleys of western Oregon — seeds are field planted in late summer, and plants vernalize in the field during winter with little risk of freezing (although it can happen). Flowering, seedset and seed harvest are complete by August of the next year in the field. In the greenhouse, it is possible to obtain seed for testing the year following field selection of mother roots. Beets, which are wind pollinated, have perfect flowers. A complex selfincompatibility system serves to limit pollen germination and growth when it lands on its own flower; but there are a number of exceptions that allow for self-fertilization. These exceptions (e.g., pseudo-self-fertility, genetic selffertility) are often used for breeding purposes. In all cases, commercial seed is obtained in isolation plots separated by at least one mile from one another to prevent excessive pollen contamination from other varieties. Beet seed is unusual from a botanical standpoint. The seed that is planted is actually the entire flower, which develops into a woody fruit. During seed processing, that fruit is polished, graded and, in today’s world, primed and coated. Priming occurs when seeds are imbibed and then dried before the radicle emerges. Within the fruit or seedball, one (monogerm) to five (multigerm) seeds will arise from the fusion of separate flowers borne in the leaf axils. All commercial beet seed used in developed countries is monogerm. Monogermity is a single-gene charac-

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

Above: Unopened sugarbeet flowers from multigerm (left) and monogerm (right) seed stalks. ter expressed by the seed parent. Multigerms are used as pollinators for hybrids due to their generally better vigor and ease of mass selection (for disease resistance in particular). The monogerm character is one of the few recessive genes common in breeding programs. Two other recessive genes are required that result in CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) in a sterile cytoplasm. Incorporating these three genes is one of the bottlenecks in developing better seed parents for hybrid varieties. Prior to the development of CMS and maintainer lines 50 years ago, commercial varieties were open-

pollinated and multigerm. Hybrids are made using a system of cytoplasmic male sterility. In this system, normal pollen development is disrupted by an unknown mechanism associated with a defect in the mitochondria (the energy-producing machinery of the cell). Mitochondria are inherited maternally; and in this case, only the seed parent will contain a sterile cytoplasm. For CMS to be expressed, two genes present in the cell’s nucleus must be recessive. If either of those genes is dominant or the cytoplasm is normal, the plant will be pollen-fertile. Generally, male-sterile CMS lines are maintained by crossing with a similar genotype with a normal cytoplasm. These are known as maintainer or Otype lines. For each CMS, there needs to be a corresponding O-type line. In hybrid beet seed production, monogerm CMS pollen-sterile seed parents are interplanted with fertile monogerm or multigerm pollen donors. Seed is harvested exclusively from the CMS line. Because the monogerm trait is expressed by the seed parent, all hybrid seed will be monogerm. Seed parents must possess at least four characteristics to be useful: monogerm, CMS, lacking two nuclear restorer genes, and have an O-type maintainer line. A great deal of effort and expense is expended in identifying suitable seed parent lines. Coupled with the requirements for high sucrose and high tonnage yields, perhaps the most difficult phase of sugarbeet breeding is producing good seed parent lines. If

Photo: Johin Kern / Crystal Beet Seed

Breeding Sugarbeet

disease resistance needs to be homozygous (i.e., two copies of the gene) in the hybrid, such traits also need to be incorporated in the seed parent.

Genetics of Agronomic Characters in Sugarbeet Sugarbeet breeding for agronomic characters has relied mainly on mass selection. This strategy works well for traits that are easily scored and relatively insensitive to environmental fluctuations. A variation on this theme — recurrent selection — has been practiced to some extent. With this method, selections are made and crossed with a common parent. The progeny are evaluated, and the best-performing families or lines are identified. Those seed parents whose progeny showed high performance are then intercrossed and advanced to another round of selection. Frequently, progeny testing occurs with a promising pollinator crossed with a series of CMS tester lines. Performance is measured in various ways. Agronomic characters such as sucrose percent and yield are measured at the end of the growing season. Disease nurseries are employed to evaluate performance under disease pressure. Visual evaluations for the number of crowns and sprangled roots, relative vigor, color, shape and root smoothness are sometimes performed. In general, the breeding data typically collected in many breeding programs have been insufficient for examining the genetics of agronomic traits. Unfortunately, the available information is often dated or inadequate. So a re-examination of these questions with

ble! a l i a v Now A 09/10 0 The 2

the more-precise methodologies available today should be a high priority. Here’s a brief summary of the number of genes controlling a trait, as well as their proposed mode of gene action: • Sucrose — Percent sucrose in beets ranges from 4-6% in some wild species and up to 20% or more in elite sugarbeet germplasm. Vegetable beets (red beet and Swiss chard) are generally intermediate in sucrose concentration, commonly between 6-10%. Increasing the percent sucrose in sugarbeet from “intermediate” to “high” levels probably occurred within the first 50 years of sugarbeet breeding. The inheritance of sucrose concentration is highly heritable and amenable to mass selection. Among crosses of sugarbeets and other types, it was inferred that three or four genes control sucrose concentration. • Yield — Yield, expressed either as weight of the beet or per-unit area, is an unpredictable trait. Both high and low yielders can be retrieved from the progeny of either low-yielding or high-yielding beets, indicating nonadditive gene action. In practice, highyielding hybrids must be determined via trial and error by crossing seed parents with many prospective pollen parents to determining a parent’s combining ability. That is a laborious and

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With the exception of Rhizoctonia tolerance, the resistance for major sugarbeet diseases can be traced back to wild beets or other species.

expensive task. • Disease Resistance — Disease resistance in beets is generally dominant in its expression, due to the nature of the breeding system and the reliance on mass selection as a breeding tool. Many resistances are controlled by dominant genes at more than one locus. For example, tolerance to the most prevalent type of Cercospora leafspot is controlled by at least five independent genes. Similarly, tolerance to Rhizoctonia root rot is controlled by two or more genes. From these numbers it is clear that breeding for Rhizoctonia tolerance should be easier than breeding for Cercospora — and in practice, this does appear to be the case. For other major diseases, however, the pattern of inheritance is not as clear. Exceptions include that of: (1) rhizomania resistance, where a single dominant gene is being widely used (e.g., the “Holly” gene, also known as Rz1), and (2) a single gene for resistance to the beet cyst nematode. With the exception of Rhizoctonia tolerance, each of these resistances’ origin can be traced back to wild beets or other species. Resistance to other diseases (sometimes near-immunity) has been identified among the wild species. It is not clear whether these resistances are the same or different from the ones currently in use. A great deal of effort is expended by public breeding programs such as USDA-ARS to identify and incorporate new sources of disease resistance into commercial-ready sugarbeet parents through germplasm enhancement. Enhanced germplasm is released to commercial seed companies for reselection and hybrid development. ■

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THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010

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Around The Industry Sugarbeet Institute Draws 2,700 to Grand Forks

Nearly 2,700 sugarbeet growers and affiliated industry personnel attended the 48th International Sugarbeet Institute, held on March 17 and 18 in Grand Forks, N.D. The 2011 ISBI is scheduled for March 16 and 17 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

27th International Sweetener Symposium is July 30-Aug. 4

Bayer CropScience Donates to ASGA Internship, Scholarships

The 27th International Sweetener Symposium is scheduled for July 30 to August 4 at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa in Vail, Colo. The event is sponsored by the American Sugar Alliance. Individual speakers and panels will address several “hot topics,” including the global financial situation, integration of the U.S. and Mexican sugar markets, current world and domestic sugar supply and demand, and the status of international trade issues. Traditionally, about 400 people attend the symposium to hear about significant and timely issues affecting the industry and to network with their sweetener industry colleagues. The schedule allows free time every afternoon to enhance industry relations. For details on the International Sweetener Symposium, visit the American Sugar Alliance website — www.sugaralliance.org — or call the ASA at (703) 351-5055.

For the seventh consecutive year, Bayer CropScience has donated $2,000 to industry internships and scholarship programs in the names of six sugarbeet growers. The growers were selected from a drawing sponsored by Bayer CropScience during the American Sugarbeet Growers Association (ASGA) annual meeting in Charleston, S.C., in early February. The winning growers had the opportunity to choose which industry organization they would like to show their support to through the donations made by Bayer CropScience. Each winner also received a Garmin Nuvi® 205 GPS unit, courtesy of Poncho® Beta seed treatment. The winning sugarbeet growers were Doug Etten, Dalton, Minn.; Marilyn Horsch, Aberdeen, Idaho; Jayson Keller, Mitchell, Neb.; Perry Meuleman, Rupert, Idaho; Cleo Miller, Nampa, Idaho, and Shawn Strecker, Bighorn, Mont. Etten, Horsch and Meuleman

requested that $1,000 go to the ASGA Bill Cleavinger Internship Program. This program is named in honor of the late Texas grower who served the industry for more than 30 years on various sugarbeet grower boards and as a president of ASGA. Bayer CropScience donated the following amounts to the listed cooperative or association’s scholarship fund: $500 on behalf of Jayson Keller to Western Sugar Cooperative; $250 on behalf of Cleo Miller to the Nyssa-Nampa Beet Growers Association; and $250 on behalf of Shawn Strecker to the Mountain States Beet Growers Association. “Honoring U.S. sugarbeet producers at the ASGA annual meeting is a privilege every year,” stated Kerry Grossweiler, Bayer CropScience product manager for seed treatments. “This Bayer CropScience donation serves to assist the next generation of leaders in the sugarbeet industry.” Bayer CropScience also is committed, Grossweiler added, to bringing next-generation technology to beet growers, as the company continues to dedicate resources in research and development to significant innovations in the pipeline for the sugarbeet industry. The most recent product introduction specific to sugarbeets from Bayer CropScience was Poncho Beta seedapplied insecticide in 2009. “We are proud to maintain our longterm partnership with sugarbeet growers,” Grossweiler said, “through a portfolio of crop protection offerings, as well as through our involvement with and support of ASGA.” ■ Below: Three of the ASGA drawing winners are shown here with Bill Striegel (at right), Poncho Beta product development manager with Bayer CropScience. They are, left to right: Jayson Keller of Mitchell, Neb.; Cleo Miller, Nampa, Idaho; and Shawn Strecker, Bighorn, Mont.

THE SUGARBEET GROWER April/May 2010