AgBioResearch

Michigan Sugarbeet Industry Research Priorities

Soil Management

• Soil Health/Quality
  • Drainage
  • Tilth
  • Water Holding Capacity
  • Soil pH
  • Manure Impacts
  • Lime
  • Cover Crops (e.g. Oilseed Radish, Clover, etc)
• Compaction
  • Pinch Rows
  • Impact of First Pass
• Wind Erosion
  • Cover Crops
  • Residue-How Much (%)
  • What Are the Other Impacts of Residue

Stand Establishment (Fall vs Spring)

• Emergence
• Tillage (Fall vs Spring)
• Strip-tillage
• Seedbed Preparation…Stale Seedbed
  • Depth
  • Row Spacing
  • Plant Population

Insects

• Tarnish Plant Bug (Lygus)
  • Root Aphids (below ground)
  • White Grubs (True/Annual)
    • Flea Beetles
    • Spring Tails
    • Cut Worms
  • Seed Treatments

Disease Management

• Rhizoctonia Control
  • Fungicides Resistance Management
  • Tolerant Varieties
• Cercospora Leafspot Management
  • New Fungicides
  • Resistance with Fungicides
  • Root Rot Complexes
• Alternaria Leaf Spot
  • Resistance
• Aphanomyces
  • Impact
• Rhizomania
• Fusarium
• Sugar Beet Cyst Nematode
• Seedling Disease Interactions
• Seed Treatments

Varieties

• Risk Management Traits
• Soil Type Impacts
• Smooth Root
• High: Sugar, RWSA, RWST
• Good Disease Packages
• Seed Treatments

Economy (Sound Economics)

• Cost Analysis/Comparison
• Bottom Line Impact
• Risk Management

Fertilizer

• Starter
  • Liquid vs Dry
  • In-Furrow vs Banded 2x2
  • Mn and B
  • Fertility Recommendation for Row Spacing
• Heavier Residue Impact
• Soil pH
• Grid Sampling (Variable Rate Tech)
• Lime Sources
• Nitrogen Management
• Foliar Feed
• Effects With Fertilizers and Sugar Purity
• Difference in Row Spacing and Amount of Fertilizer Needed

Weed Control

• Timing (Temperature Impact)
• Fungicide Interaction
• Reduce Herbicide Injury
• Sugar Beet Competition With Weeds
• Herbicide Resistances (e.g. Waterhemp, Residual Herbicide Options Horseweed, Palmer Amaranth)
• Controlling Roundup Ready Canola

Storage

• Improving Beet Storage

Topping/Harvesting

• Improving Sugar Beet Defoliation
• Reduce Harvest Loss
• Respiration on Beet Storage

Last Updated: October 2021