Adverse weather conditions, particularly windy periods that prevent spraying, or frosts in crops that have been stressed by herbicide injury, present challenges. When chemical control measures fail, salvage by hand labor is very expensive. Local research has demonstrated dramatic yield losses when weed control is not achieved. To date, the only economically important insect pest in the region are flea beetles . Damage to crops in the cotyledon stage can be quite serious.
Insect damage increases crop sensitivity to herbicide injury and frost damage.
Several control options, including seed treatment, soil applied insecticides, and foliar applied insecticides, are available and effective. The 1999 crop was severly affected by spring frosts in May and early June. About 60 percent of fields were replanted after frost damage. A few fields were replanted twice. This organization represents growers interests in dealing with processor contracts, promotes the sugar industry interests in relation to federal policies, funds research projects through assessment revenues, and promotes all manner of efforts to combat diseases, pests, or policy issues that threaten the sugarbeet industry.