Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative: Sugar Beets Emerging Through Challenges

Here with an update is Emma Burt, Research Agronomist for the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. 

What is Sugarbeet Report?

“Sugarbeet Report” presented by NDSU Extension, features growing tips from NDSU sugar beet specialists and researchers.

Bruce Sundeen: 00:00

This is the Sugarbeet Report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season. There's always good news and bad news when it comes to growing sugar beet. Here with an update is Emma Burt, research agronomist for the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. Emma, how did spring planting go in your area?

Emma Burt: 00:20

Spring planting went really well, I would say, for the most part this year. Bulk of our crop was able to get in that end of April time frame, which is really all you can ask for. Things were growing along great. We had timely rains to activate those preemergence herbicides. So weed control started off on the right foot, And then we had some wind issues, some big wind events that resulted in a replant situation a little bit heavier than what we are used to. Roughly 10% of our acres needed to be replanted this year, which is about five times what our average is. That's a hefty hit right there. But those originally planted beets, they're looking great right now.

Bruce Sundeen: 01:03

How's the crop progressed, and how's the insect and weed battle?

Emma Burt: 01:07

Things are really looking good right now. Our originally planted crop is about the 10 plus leaf stage on average. The root is roughly the size of your thumb, and then those replants are obviously a little further behind. They're in about the four to six leaf stage, but they're still looking great, growing just like they should be. Insect pressure has really been minimal this year aside from our typical hot spot root maggot area in our Northern district. But growers were able to maintain control there, and that doesn't appear to be an issue going forward. And then weed control has really been pretty good as well. We've had activating rains as we've needed them, so our laybys were able to be down into the soil solution. So we should have continued weed control as we go forward. Yeah. Like I said, that rain has been really fairly timely. We're not too wet anywhere, but we're also really not too dry on the overall. As we start to transition into the Cercospora spraying season here, it would be okay if the rain wanted to maybe take a back seat for the next few weeks, and then we'll take a little shot and then take a few weeks off again.

Bruce Sundeen: 02:16

What's going on with weeds right now?

Emma Burt: 02:19

Where the crop is sitting right now, most growers are gonna be applying their second lay by application for weed control this next week here. And then in about ten to twelve days after that, it'll be time to make that first Cercospora application, then we'll follow a ten to twelve day spray interval following that first one.

Bruce Sundeen: 02:40

Emma, how is Cercospora leaf spot in your area? Has it been a tough one?

Emma Burt: 02:44

Cercospora's been a tough one the last couple of years for sure. 2025, especially, the environment was just the most conducive it could have been for the disease to really thrive. You know, that hot, wet, humid, lots of rainfall. So the disease really was aggressive last year, and we have a lot of inoculum coming into this season. We have a strong fungicide program in place, and we are hopeful that growers follow that program. And by doing so, they'll be able to maintain good control, and we will have a very nice crop on the horizon here.

Bruce Sundeen: 03:23

Thanks, Emma. Our guest has been Emma Burt, research agronomist for the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative. This is the Sugarbeet Report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season.