Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-12-16
Importance of Sugar Beets
Stressed at Conference

record year was 1924, when nearly 2s,OOn
acres we're harvested.
Due largely TO the decline in numbers
OF livestock, lack Of rotations, lack OF
knowledge of correct methods OF produc-
ton and the increasing amount OF raw
land and land of fertility being planted
to beets, Yields declined steadily from IL
tons per acre in 1908 to less than eight
tons in 1920. The increasing amount OF
high water table and used for growing
beets also had an effect upon yields. The
increase since 1920 is attributed largely
to increased manuring practices. earlier
planting, the increased improvement in
systems Of rotation and the use OF better
land for beet production.
The higher beet yields in northern
Colorado are due largely to the greater
number Of livestock in this area which
means more manure for beet land. Sugar
beet districts Of northern Colorado also
produce more intertilled crops which are
responsible for improved soil conditions.
While low yields may be due partly TO
soil and climatic conditions over which
growers have little control. the chief
causes for low yields in southeastern
Montana are: (1) Use Of land lacking
the necessary fertility due to failure to
build up the soil either by manure or
the use of alfalfa or sweet clover In
rotations. (2) Late planting. On the
average, early April planting will yield
about three ons per acre more than May
planting. 81 Improper thinning. The
time spent by the owner in supervising
thinning operations will yield large re-
turns. BY doing the thinning themselves,
all of the &c boys in beet club work in
1926 obtained higher yields than their
fathers. (4) Poor preparation of seed
bed due to late spring blowing. shallow
blowing, not enough narrowing, leevlfng,
etc. (5) Lack of moisture. Poor judg-
ment in knowing when beets really need
water. (6) Planting when water table
is too high.
The best results are obtained when
beets are preceded by an intertilled crop
which in turn is preceded by alfalfa OF
sweet clover. Goo results from beets are
reported when beets follow beans, po-
tatoes or corn.
To get the fullest results from plowed-
under alfalfa it is considered unsuitable
to grow beets two years in succession
on the same piece of land. Whether this
system of repeated cropping to beets may
be continued will depend upon the
amount of manure used TO maintain the
fertility Of the soil.
In studies of the beet growing prac-
tees in the Billings area made by the
, Montana Experiment Station it was
found that in 1924, fields that were al
least rs per cent manured averaged 12.t
tons per acre, while those that were
MANFRED less than rs per cent averaged
IL 0 n per acre, beets following beets
averaged 11.9 tons: beets following al
intertilled crop averaged 1873 tons: beets
following grain averaged Ill tons, anc
beets after hay and pasture averaged
Ill tons.
The average family farm should have
at least 20 acres of sugar beets in TIT
areas where this crop can be grown sue.
cessfully. In general, so per cent Of tht
land on the farm should be planted Il
tntertilled crops and the rest to alfalfa
and pasture; the latter crops should BIZ
used entirely for livestock feeding or
the farm to insure a supply of manure
for maintaining soil fertility. One-hal
Of the intertilled acreage should be de.
voted to beets and the other half tt
beans, corn, or potatoes, according tt
market demands. In general not NOR,
than 25 per cent of the land on the farm
should be planted to beets. Experience
during the past 10 years indicates tina
the farmer who maintains his rotation
system from year to year regardless OF
seasonal fluctuations in markets, make.
the most money.
The value of the land, distance from
market, yield per acre, size Of farm AM
efficiency of the grower are the i'm
portant factors in production costs. TIL,
cost OF producing sugar beets in south
eastern Montana will amount to nearl,
$50 per acre, including interest on in.
vestment. Estimates of different grower
show costs ranging from $40 to s85 pc.
acre. The Great Western Sugar compan
on its farm at Fromberg, where all la
Dor n managerial service were figure,
In. places costs at SGT per acre.
Reports by members of the beet com
mittee at the Billings conference indi
cate that in 1926 about 80 per cent o
the growers in southeastern Montan
produced beets at a loss, inspite of tn
fact that beet growing is one of tn
most profitable enterprises in the dis
trict. The yield and price were not higl
enough to pay costs. 1t is agreed that til
grower who intelligently spends $50 pc
acre and secures a high yield will max
: a much greater net profit thar tn
grower h tries to get along with mucl
less cost.
Profits in beet production would b
|. Lgreater If there were better roads fron
= farms to beet dumps. The average hal
Is about n and a half miles, the az
erage cost 81 per ton. With good roads /
is estimated that this cost would be re
duced at least rs per cent. This woul
mean S5o,OOO more annually to the bee
growers OF southeastern Montana.
= some seasons the saving would be eve
greater. Better opportunity for groves
living outside of the immediate vicinit
III o 1.-THE sugar factory tn sac,Ira hea+ mi