This is the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season. This is the last sugar beet report of the 2025 growing season. We'll do an overview of this year's crop with Eric Branch, NDSU and the University of Minnesota extension sugar beet specialist. Eric, how would you characterize the sugar beet growing season in the valley this year?

Well, Bruce, we look back in 2025, and I think the word that I had earlier in the spring and the summer was variable, and I think we have to continue with variable. It was a banner year for weed pressure and disease pressure, really kind of depending on the weather, depending on the rainfall, especially south to north where some regions in the southern Minnesota Beach Sugar Cooperative, we're getting upwards of 33 inches since May. So that is a huge amount of moisture going to the ground, and that makes spray applications challenging and timing, to both manage those weeds and diseases where timely action is really essential and proactive management. But farther north, of course, in the Fargo region, you know, Central Valley, maybe we're looking at 12 to 15 inches, and then even North Of Grand Forks, some areas 11 to 12 inches since May. On the cusp of not enough moisture, think, but the crop overall, you know, in those areas has benefited from more regular, more normal rainfall during the year compared to those wetter regions.

How do the warm temperatures affect the sugar beet crop?

This fall, we've seen nice temperatures as those of us say, but the warm temperatures, sure, they promote disease, and I think we've heard about a lot of that from our previous guests on the show. But when we're gonna harvest beets and it's 85 degrees out, that's not gonna work. Those beets will go into the pile hot as the growers and the co ops pile beets. They'll just get warmer and warmer and warmer and rot. So I I think 55 degrees is kind of the cutoff temperature. So as as nighttime temperatures start to cool down, we'll see the stockpile harvest begin a little bit later than expected, but hopefully we'll have good weather into October for that.

Was it a rough season for everybody?

Well, you know, where the rainfall was favorable, I think the beets overall look pretty good. Of course, we can provide our top research based recommendations. Growers can do everything right, but if the weather doesn't cooperate, it's it's really tough, Bruce. So so variable, again, is my my word of the year for that one.

Anything notable going on for the post season?

My colleagues here at NDSU Extension are privileged enough to work and think and talk about sugar beets all year round. So we've got some events coming up this winter as well, starting with our sugar beet research and reporting session where we share all of the research that is funded by the growers, that is funded by you guys. And that's on January 13 here in Fargo, and then followed up closely by the International Sugar Beet and Dry Bean Expo, which is a new event. It's put on by a group of industry experts, industry folks from sugar beet and North Harvest Bean, dry edible bean producers. The combined event is January 2122 at the Alaris Center, and we'll have an extension presence there as well. And it's always a great time to meet with the community and meet people face to face.

Any final thoughts, Eric?

Well, in closing, we've had a fantastic slate of guests and experts this year. So I really wanna thank all of them for their contributions, and again, thank our audience. You know, our growers do a great job, and I wish all of them a successful and safe harvest this fall.

Thanks, Eric. Our guest has been Eric Branch, NDSU and University of Minnesota extension sugar beet specialist. This is the sugar beet report, bringing you the latest information from NDSU throughout the sugar beet growing season.