White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-03-21

Just what place sugar beets should
occupy in a system Of intensive farm
ing such as exists In Western Wash
ington is question open to much dis
cussion. 1t Is plainly evident that
berry growers and poultrymen are
most poorly equipped for the produc-
ton of sugar beets. They usually
have small acreage, with high val
uation per acre. Their farm nipple
ments are nl-suited to sugar beet pro-
duction, and the returns from a few
acres of beets should not appeal to
them.
While the berry grower would be
fairly well equipped because Of his
picking operations to handle the OK.
ira labor for beet thinning and har-
vesting, the necessary work in the
berry fields during the rest Of the
year would not permit him to raise a
crop of beets.
In the case of the poultryman, who
is busy with his flock the entire year,
and who must find time for raising
kale and mangels in addition, crop
of sugar beets would be disastrous
burden. ...,
The dairy farmer would seem fairly
we'll equipped to raise crop Of
beets, since he usually has a larger
acreage with lesser valuation per
acre. The difficulties m tione
above in working sugar beets into his
crop rotation with clover and grass
may be, serious.
Again, If piece of old sod land is
plowed up for the beets, the first
years experience with the crop will
quite likely be disappointing.
If corn silage is produced on the
farm, the harvest and silo filling oper.
atoms and beet harvesting operations
will interfere in many cases.
The dairy farmer, because of more
or less experience In growing man.
gels and other root crops, would make
a better success Of sugar beet grow
ing than most others. The questions
for him to decide are whether he likes
to grow root crops, whether the beets
will work In with his plan of crop
ping, and whether the returns from
few acres of beets will be more at
tractive than the returns from other
cash crops, such as berries, potatoes,
poultry and seed crops.
In the oat raising sections of West
ern Washington it appears that the
sugar beet could occupy very valu-
able place. The crop does not con-
flict with grain growing: 1t has ben
eficial effect on grain lands, and would
offer better money return. Grain
farmers, however, are usually not ex-
perienced beet growers, and do not
take kindly to crop requiring such
| intensive work as sugar beets.
Cost Of Production
The profits derived from sugar
beets will be determined by the cost
of production and by the amount Of
any bonus which may be paid by the
sugar factory. The subject Is rather
an intangible one to discuss, because
Of the variation in these production
costs and the uncertainty of the
amount of the bonus paid by the fac
tory.
1t is highly improbable that the
average cost of producing an acre Of
sugar beets in Western Washington
will be less than $500. This figure is
by no means too high when 1t is real.
lied that our farmers are unfamiliar
with sugar beet growing, a condition
which will exist for several years.
Also, the abundant growth of weeds
on the West Side will always keep
production costs high with crop like
this one. Assumingla production of
20 tons per acre, and price of S.
per ton for the beets, the profit would
be approximately $40 per acre. KAa 4,
bonus were paid the profit would BY
correspondingly higher. A.
1t is impossible at this time to say
just how successful crop sugar beetS
can be made. Assuredly they Will
grow and yield well In our climate;
when given proper cultural treatment.
Their fate seems TO rest with the
dairy farmer and the grain grower.
The crop is most likely to be a sue
cess under these types OF farming.
Much depends upon the attitude OF
the farmer after trying the crop for
a year or two. The. intensive work
required and the necessity for extra.
labor. together with the money re-
turn, are factors which will greatly In
fluence the final verdict on sugar
beets.