This is the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season. Cercospora leaf spot has had a significant impact on sugar beet production this growing season. What about next year? Here to talk about this season's cercospora phyte and preparing for next year's growing season is Ashok Chanda, extension sugar beet pathologist with the University of Minnesota and Northwest Research and Outreach Center in Crookston, Minnesota. Ashok, we're almost a week away from sugar beet harvest. What's your take on overall cercospora levels this season?

Yes, Bruce. The harvest is coming fast. I would rate 2025 as certainly a very high cercospora lease per deer, which was very similar to 2016 and 2020, especially in the northern part of the valley. The fields that were planted early had excellent stand establishment with canopy closure close to late June. We also had warm and humid conditions which were favorable for early development of cercospora this growing season. For the most part, growers who started spraying at the July and followed a recommended four or five spray program utilizing multiple modes of action were able to manage cercospora very effectively. And those fields that missed timely fungicide applications certainly had higher leaf spot levels. Other factor that contributed to higher disease levels this season was adaptation of Cercospora population to the highly resistant sugar beet varieties that we are currently using.

What can growers do to minimize the impact of Cercospora on next year's sugar beet crop?

Especially this time of the year, the fall tillage can be beneficial to degrade the infected leaf residue and also the levels of cercospora inoculum. On the infected leaves that stay on the soil surface, cercospora can survive up to 22. So burning the residue to a depth of four to eight inches can reduce the survival time to only ten months. Let's think about weeds too because the weeds can also serve as alternative host for cercospora leaf spot. Can show up on those weeds next growing season. When those weeds die, again, the inoculum is carried over to the next year's crop. So the growers can also increase the length of rotation between sugar beet crops, especially to reduce the Cercospora inoculum between the years.

Are there any ideal practices to help reduce other diseases? What about rhizoctonia root rot for next year?

Planting small grains such as wheat and barley after sugar beets can significantly reduce the levels of rhizoctonia in the soil. For fields with history of rhizoctonia on top of using fungicides, the growers also should select a rhizoctonia specialty variety which can actually offer protection as the beets get older.

Ashok, do you have any other comments on disease management strategies?

Any efforts taken in minimizing the disease at the end of the season can go a long way in reducing the future disease risk. I know harvest season can be very busy, but, take your time for planning and a safe harvest.

Thanks, Ashok. Our guest has been Ashok Chanda, extension sugar beet pathologist with the University of Minnesota and Northwest Research and Outreach Center in Crookston, Minnesota. This is the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season.