August 16, 2001

Great Weather in July Helps Sugarbeets

"We had tremendously suitable weather for sugarbeet crop growth in July," according to Mohamed Khan, North Dakota State University Extension Service soil science specialist. "Warm weather and a high number of growing degree days really gave the crop a chance to catch up."

Allan Cattanach, American Crystal Sugar Company general agronomist is hoping for ideal weather from now through harvest. "We’d like to see nice sunny days, probably in the low to mid-eighties and then cool nights. Plants don’t respire as much with the cool nights so sugar that’s built up during the day through photosynthesis in the root will remain giving us a high quality crop at the end of the season."

Some growing areas, especially in the northern end of the Red River Valley, have had a great deal of rain recently. Areas north of Hillsboro, on both sides of the Red River have had 8 to 12 inches of rain in the past 2 weeks. Kahn says, in those areas, the crop will suffer some water damage or drown out.

Cercospora, which was not a problem earlier in the growing season, is becoming much more common in the valley. "That ideal weather back in July for crop growth was also suitable for Cercospora leaf spot infection," says Cattanach. "We’re encouraging growers to closely monitor their fields and work with their agriculturist to come up with recommendations for spraying."

Cattanach reminds growers to rotate their chemicals so they don’t use any product twice in a row to prevent any resistance and also to stay on the spray schedule. The use of Supertin was just approved by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and is pending in North Dakota. "It allows growers to apply Supertin only seven days prior to harvest which gives them a lot more flexibility to manage the disease during the pre-harvest schedule."

Some growers are experiencing insect problems that they wouldn’t normally see this time of year because much of the sugarbeet crop was planted late. "We’ve got variegated cutworms that skeletenize some of the larger leaves and also feed down in the crown area where growth is occurring," notes Cattanach. "Lygus bugs are back with us this year. They tend to feed on the new emerging growth from the center of the crown. Army worms and leaf miners have also caused problems."

Khan says growers can tank mix insecticides with some fungicides to control insects and diseases at the same time. "It will save the grower money but growers should be sure to check out the products they’re going to use and monitor air temperatures so the beet plants aren’t damaged."

Growers are also experiencing some problems with late season weeds. "Resistant Kochia is a big problem, especially in the northern end of the valley," says Cattanach. "We’re also seeing pigweed which stands about a foot or two above the canopy. We think some new species have developed that are more difficult to control."

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Source: Mohamed Khan, (701) 231-8596, mkhan@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Allan Cattanach, (218) 236-4487, acattana@crystalsugar.com
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, Richard_Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu

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