Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1911-10-14
Beet INDUSTRY IS
GREAT IN MICHIGAN

The following is from the National
Farmer published at Bay City, Michi-
gan
The population of Michigan consumes
about Sl2, 600, 900 worth of sugar each
year. The State is now producing
Sl2, 000 600 worth of sugar each wear
from the beets grown in Michigan.
Before the establishment of the beet
sugar industry in Michigan all money
expended for sugar was sent out of the
State. Since the establishment of the
industry this money has been kept with
i'll the State; consequently there is the
difference between Sl2, 900. 900 sent out
of the State and $1,000, 600 brought
into the State, or a difference in the
States balance sheet at the end of each
year of S24, ,0O0, 900 This is no incon
siderable item in the wonderful develop
nent of Michigan's S resources during the
last decade
To produce this S12, 900. 900 worth of
sugar the factories in Michigan counsume
each year 50, 600, 600 worth of beets In
other words our farmers are receiving
this amount annually for their beet crop.
The other agricultural resources of the
State have not been cut down TO make
room for this increase; i'll fact, as the
result OF the introduction of this indus
try, the yield of other farm crops has
increased. Farmers are actually gettin Q
greater yield OF oats, corn aud wheat per
acre in the beet districts as the result of
rotating these crops with beets than
farmers are securing in other sections of
the State
Though Michigan has made such
strides within the last ten years, the
sugar industry III this State is only in its
infancy. Germany produces about $3.50,
600 600 worth OF sugar each wear, and,
strange as may seem. the total area
planted i'll any one year to produce this
crop is only 10 per cent greater than the
area of Oakland county, Michigan. Cl-
matte and soil conditions of Germany
are similar to those of Michigan. The
quality of beets grown i'll this State is
fully equal to those grown in Germany
The Weld per acre is not so great
Much attention is now being given TO
improving the agricultural methods so
that the results obtained from the in
dustry in this country shall equal those
secured in Germany.
One of the interesting features CON
nected with the beet sugar industry in
Michigan is the steady improvement in /
nally none of these by-products were
used.
In the manufacture of beet sugar the 1
beets are first cleansed and then shred /
ded into strips about the size Of a lead /
pencil. These strips, commonly called /
colettes, are placed in iron cylinders and /
the sugar is stepped out. Cozettes con
tain very small fraction OF l per cent I
sugar and large per cent water. They /
are run through presses which takes out |
part of the water. and then the beet ,
pulp is dried either by steam heat or by |
direct heat. The resulting material |
looks considerably like green tea and is
called beet pulp This is put up i'll 100
pound sacks and sold to dairymen. Its
nutrtive value is about the same AS
bran. 1t costs nearly $50, 600 to erect |
a drer to care for the pulp from one
factory.
The first drier was built in Michigan /
about seven years ago. Since that time
nearly every sugar factory in the State
has installed drier and is drying pulp /
as above indicated The amount of dried /
pulp now produced in Michigan is from
80, 600 tons to 10, 900 tons annually. A 4
good market has been found for this /
product III the dairy districts tributary to /
the large cities. Much of it is shipped |
into the States of New York, Pennsyl- /
vania, Maryland and Virginia. Michi- |
gan consumes abont 4, 900 tons of dried !
pulp yearly. Dairymen are rapidly rec !
ognizing the value of this cattle food.
They know it is perfectly clean and
wholesome, that it produces good milk
and much of it.