The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-20
Plant Industry
Bureau Gives
Figures on Sugar

L
Keen interest Is being evidenced
by sugar-beet growers in various sec
lions Of the country in the possibility
OF producing their own sugar on the
farm b ysome simple process or Of
establishing and operating their own
sugar mills. Owing to the scarcity
and high price Of sugar numerous
inquiries on the subject are being re-
ceived by the bureau of plant in
dustry of the United States depart
ment of agriculture.
According to specialists of the bu-
reau who have made close study
OF all phases Of beet-sugar produc-
ton, there are several fundamental
features to be taken into considera-
ton in the establishment and opera
ton of sugar mills. In the first
place, no simple or inexpensive
method of making sugar from beets
on a home or small scale has been
devised. Therefore fully equip
ped sugar mill is necessary in pro-
ducing sugar from beets. The small
est beet-sugar mill, say the bureau
specialists, to be successful should
not slice less than 500. tons of beets
a day for a period of 100 days each
jear. Since the average yield Of
beets in the United States is ten
tons per acre, not less than 5000
acres of beets must be grown annual
iy for each mill OF this size. A
smaller acreage would probably
cause the mill to operate at q loss
under normal conditions. There is
almost always larger or smaller
loss of beet acreage during the sea-
son in every community where beets
are grown, hence in order to bring
5000 acres of beets to- maturity 1t
would be wise to plant about $500
acres.
In order to secure the production
of from 500, to 5000 acres Of beets
annually in a given beet area there
should be available in that area at
least from fifteen to twenty thousand
acres of good beet land, so that the
proper crop rotation can be prac-
ticed. This acreage should be so To-
Gated that from 25 to SO per cent
of the beets grown can be delivered
at the sugar mill by wagons and the
remainder of the beets should have
freight haul of less than 100 miles
in order to avoid heavy freight
charges.
The construction and equipment OF
mill of 500 tons slicing capacity
you'd cost under present conditions
approximately $750,0o0. This is
about SO per cent above pre-war
costs owing to the increased price of
materials and the higher scale Of
wages. In addition to the initial
cost of the mill approximately $780,
900 of working capital would be re-
quired in cash for overhead charges
and operating expenses until returns
can be expected from the sale of the
sugar.
Probably the most important of
the other items to be taken into &C
count in the operation of a beet
sugar mill is that of a supply of
beet-sugar seed. A 500-ton mill
would require about 100000 pounds
of seed annually to insure the pro-
duction OF sufficient beets for 100
day run. Sugar-beet seed of good
quality has been produced in the
United States each year for several
years, and those who are consider
ing the erection Of beet-sugar mills
should look into the possibilities OF
producing their own seed. This min
imum-sized mill would require in ad-
dition to it's permanent employees
about 300 workmen for the operat-
ing period and a good supply OF pure
water, high-grade lime rock and
plenty of coal for fuel, besides num-
erous other supplies.
-.I-