This is the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season. The Red River Valley is large enough to offer a distinct variety of growing conditions for sugar beet. Let's go south for an update from Mark Bloomquist, director of research for the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. Mark, in your area, how did the early part of the season go?

This spring, SMBSC experienced an early planting window similar to the 2024. The cooperative was approximately 80% planted by April 24, and April planting in our growing season often provides for the potential of above average yields. Conditions were good for sugar beet development through May. And based on the first month of the growing season, we are very optimistic about our 2025 crop yield potential.

How has the season progressed in your area?

Rainfall has been abundant to excessive since early June. Through the central portion of the growing area, many fields have received in excess of 20 inches of rain from June through August. In the areas most affected by the above normal rainfall, we have numerous drawn out areas and fields and have also seen some stunted canopy and root development. We're also seeing an increased presence of root disease in this area. However, our southern and eastern growing districts are experiencing a much better growing season. The rainfall has still been plentiful across this area, but not so severe as to cause issues with yield potential of these areas. After a good start to our growing season, excessive rainfall over the past three months has taken away some of our yield potential from our crop.

With all the moisture, it's a golden season for Cercospora leaf spot. How is the battle across the SMBSC growing area?

Frequent rainfall has led to high humidity across the growing area most of the summer. This moisture along with moderate temperatures has produced high Cercospora disease index values and conditions very favorable for leaf spot development throughout July and August. Cercospora is present in all fields at varying levels. Timely fungicide applications are helping to hold down the levels of CLS present in many fields, but we have fields that will exceed the economic loss threshold for Cercospora. It'll be important to keep fungicide protection on fields during September to reduce losses to this disease.

When will the prepile harvest begin at the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, and what kind of crop do you expect?

We have not started our prepile harvest at SMBSC yet this season. We are currently planning to begin prepile harvest on Tuesday, September 2. This is three weeks later than our normal start date. We have delayed our prepow harvest to allow the crop to continue to grow. The wide range in conditions and field potential makes yield estimating difficult for this crop. Red samples taken by our agricultural staff during July and August indicate we have the potential for a final yield in the mid to upper twenties for tons per acre, which would be average or slightly below average yield for our cooperative.

Mark, any final thoughts?

Harvest is a busy time of year for everyone. We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to be safe in the fields, on the roads, and at the receiving stations this harvest season.

Thanks, Mark. Our guest has been Mark Bloomquist, director of research for the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. This has been the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season.