The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-03
BEET RAISING.
Beet Sugar Factory Officials
| Visit MankatO.
The Profit of Raising Beets is Explained
to the Farmers at a Meeting This
Afternoon.

| f. w. Fink. general manager of the
Minnesota Sugar Co and F. G.. Sukey,
superintendent of agriculture of the
company, both of st Louis Park, arrived
10 the city last night from New Ulm and
spent today in furthering their mission,
which is to induce our farmers to go
into sugar beet raising more extensively
They go to Waseca tomorrow morning,
and will also visit Faribault and Albert
Lea. At New Ulm, they secured con-
tracts with farmers to raise several
hundred acres of beets, where none
were raised last year.
When seen at The Saulpaugh this
morning by Free Press reporter, the
two beet sugar factory officials stated
that they were anxious to secure con-
tracts with our farmers for beets-the
more the better. Under the terms
OF the contract, the company is to
furnish the farmers with seed at
fifteen cents pound, to be deducted
from the first payment for beets deliv-
cred at the factory next fall Twenty
pounds of seed per acre is to be planted
The farmers agree to deliver all of their
beets direct to the factory, with the
tops closely and squarely cut off at the
base of the bottom leaf, subject to tare
which is to be determined by the COM
pany, free from dirt and in marketa-
BILE condition. The company is to pay
for such beets 81 per ton, for beets
which shall contain between 10 and II
cent sugar to the weight of the beet,
4.25 for all beets containing between
IA and Is per cent and 1926 per ton and
20 cents additional therefor for each
and every per cent sugar above Is. The
purity coefficient in each case must not
be less than 49, Where beets contain
II per cent. sugar, So so a ton will be
paid, and So for beets containing 10 per
cent sugar.
The officials state that the results
have been satisfactory thus far, the
beets from this locality averaging 10 10
per cent. sugar last year There is no
reason, they say, why the percentage
should not be higher this year, as the
conditions are more favorable this year.
The average paid for beets at the fac
tory last fall was S4.35, which is a
higher average than in others states.
The average in Nevada was So 80, in
California So so to So rs, in Michigan
81 was the highest with an average
of - As per cent. sugar, and in New
York 81 with 13 per cent. sugar. The
beets shipped from Mankato brought
ST. 80 to 81 70 ton, and some as high
as S..
The amount taken off for tare was as
low as 2 to 5 per cent and as high as 90
to % per cent. Where the farmers did
not cut off the tops enough, the tare
was greater. The farmers should fol-
low directions closely in this, and can
use the tops to feed to cattle or for fer
tilizing purposes
In speaking of the bounty, the Off
Gals declared that it should be contin-
ued for few years. as it enables the
factory to meet the losses incident to
starting and to pay the farmers better
prices for beets. If there was no
bounty, it might be necessary to move
the machinery to Michigan, where
bounty has been guaranteed for seven
years, or to Nebraska.
The gentlemen believe that Mankato
is an excellent point for factory, rail
road facilities and soil being good, and
an ample water supply. The state can
support ten or twelve factories, they
said, and several more factories es-
pecially one at Mankato, would be
| welcomed.
Mr.. Sukey gave these figures as relia-
BILE. A very low average yield of beets
is IL tons to the acre, and low factory
price would be 1926 per ton making $51
per acre. The highest figure for caring
for the crop would be $50 an acre, and
freight to st. Louis Park $40, leaving
81 an acre profit. AS matter of fact,
the crop ought to yield Is to II tons an
acre, bringing 81 30 or more at the fac
tory, the cost of raising being $50 an
acre, and freight 80 cents ton. Any
way it is figured, he said the crop ought
to be a profitable one as compared with
other crops.
A meeting of farmers was held at the
city hall this afternoon, and was ad-
dressed by Messrs Fink and Sukey, who
explained various points and answered
questions.
Ed. Schumacher has been appoi nted
agent of the company for Mankato, and
will make out contracts.