The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-04-15

"a CONTAINS advantages in lower
NV land values, freedom from seri-
AVA Gus pest damage, high quality
and sugar content and high per cent
of crop harvested gives it advantages
in sugar beet production, according
tn the report of the beet and bean
committee at the recent farm eco
nOmic conference in Billings. In bean
culture the grower has the distinct
advantage that more beans can be
grown with less man labor per acre
and that beans are needed as an in
terrified crop to improve the yield of
isugar beets in rotation.
The committee recommends that beans
be used not as a competitor with beets but
as an aid to beet tonnage in rotation and
that larger amounts Of pasture, alfalfa
and livestock be produced as a means Of in.
c~reaSing beet yields.
The full report follows:
Most western states show a decline in
sugar beet acreage since 1924, due largely
to the ravages Of the sugar beet leaf hop.
per. The Montana acreage is gradually in
creaSing.
Montana has advantages in sugar bee
production which will enable the beet grow
ers to compete with other states. TheS,
are lower land values, freedom from seriOu
pest damage, high per cent of crop har
vested, and high quality.
While the average yield per acre is high
er than Michigan and California and abOu
equal to that of Idaho and Utah, nOrther
Colorado appears to have an advantage Q
one or W tons per acre.
Local Trend Upward
In Montana the general trend of suga
beetS has been upward, from about 600
acres in 1906 to about $4,000 IN 1926. TIL
wartime increase in price of farm product
demanding less labor, together with III
| FnvnwohTa climatic conditions nnHTnnd -
acreage from nearly $4,000 in 1915 to lie:
than 5000 in 1919. The record year wi
1924, when nearly $4,000 acres were ha
vested.
Of livestock, lack of rotation. lack
knowledge of correct methods, n the il
creasing amount Of raw land and land
low fertility being planted to beets, Il
yield declined steadily from II tons p
acre in 1908 to less than eight tons in 19z
1t was also pointed out that part Of tn
l decline lin yield was due to the increasiI
amount Of high water table land bell
used for beets.
The great increase since 1920 was attri
= uted largely to increased manuring prs
= tees, earlier planting, more rotation al
= choice of better land.
Present Situation
L The discussion before the commit
e brought out the following facts regardi
: the reasons for higher yields in COlOrad
o More livestock feeding, have me
2 manure.
More intertilled crops.
f While in general low yields are d
l. partly to soil and climatic conditions OF
), which growers have little control, it "
u conceded by the committee that the oh
l. causes for low Yields in the district are
Use of land lacking in fertility-Due
failure to build soil either by manure
use Of alfalfa or sweet clover in rotate
q Late planting-It was pointed out Il
on the average early April planting "
J. rvio16 nhnuN fhwno TONS non onwn uanpo NE
May planting.
IS Improper thinning-The time of the ov
er spent in the field with labor duri
lie thinning will yield large returns. All
lie the 26 boys in beet club work, by doing
thinning themselves, obtained highed vie
than their fathers.
Il, Poor preparation Of seed bed-Due
t. late spring blowing, shallow blowing,
Or enough narrowing and leveling, etc.
a. Lack of mOisture-POOr judgment
knowing when beets really need water.
s. Planting where water table is too hi
e. Rotation
While no definite rotation was agrC
III upon, the committee declared that best
ne suits were obtained when beets were p
ed ceded by an intertilled crop which had b.
preceded by alfalfa or sweet clover.
Good results were reported from be
following either beans, potatoes or corr
is It was generally agreed that to get
on greatest return over a period OF years
at Of the alfalfa plOwed under that beets
lowing beets for at least one year was ju
ng fed. Whether or not the practice of be-
al following beets be continued for more Il
ne one year will depend upon the amount
manure applied each year.
The Huntley station results were Ct
M to show the effect Of intertilled ere
,ot alfalfa and manure on yields Of beets.
o. Size of Beet Acreage
ID The committee recommended that in
or der to properly utilize machinery, DO
he and labor on farms where beets are to
res grown, at least 20 acres be devoted to
be- purpose. Beet growers agreed that in
ms eral so per cent of the land on a f
should be in intertilled crops and the
ance in alfalfa and pasture which shC
be used entirely for livestock feeding
are the farm in order to secure manure
ina maintain beet yields. 1t was agreed
} a one half of the intertilled acreage sh,
ms be devoted to beets, the other halt
ted beans, corn, potatoes, according to ma
the demands. 1t was agreed that not 4
lb- than % per cent of the farm should b
to beets.
ats 1t was stated that over a period o
(. Years the man who did not materially