The Sugar Beet Fertilizer Program is a government-subsidized program that provides farmers with the resources they need to grow sugar beets. This program has been in place since 2011, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation that would allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide financial support to farmers who grow sugar beets and other crops in the United States.
In this program, some of the costs associated with growing sugar beets are covered by taxpayers through grants, loans, and other incentives provided by USDA. This is done in order to increase production of U.S.-grown sugar beets and reduce reliance on imports from other countries (which are often heavily subsidized by their governments).
To be eligible for assistance through the Sugar Beet Fertilizer Program, you must be a farmer who has planted sugar beets in the previous two years and who is currently growing or planning to grow sugar beets in 2020. In addition, you must have an average gross income from sugar beet production between $25,000 and $100,000 over the last three years.
A good sugar beet fertilizer program is imperative to the success of your crop. Choosing the right field location is key, as is seedbed preparation. The objectives of a good sugarbeet fertilizer program are to minimize erosion, improve soil structure, and eliminate early season weeds. Here are several tips to help you implement a successful sugarbeet fertilizer program. Read on to learn more.
Yara’s fertiliser programme
Yara has been a pioneer of liquid fertiliser in the UK for over 50 years. Its commitment to providing high-quality fertilisers has enabled it to achieve great results in terms of quality, yield and profitability. The company’s sugar beet fertiliser programme has evolved to meet the ever-increasing demand of the industry. Its range of products includes a full range of nutrient solutions to meet this demand. Yara’s agronomic advice and decision-making tools allow the company to fine-tune nutrient recommendations for specific fields.
Yara’s fertiliser programme combines three fertilisers to improve the performance of sugar beet. The YaraBela and YaraMila compounds are nitrogen plus sulphur nitrate fertilisers. They also contain micronutrients like manganese at 500 g/L. The YaraBela fertiliser is ideal for many other crops, including sugar beet.
Yara’s sugar beet fertilizer programme has been largely successful in reducing pest infestations and increasing yields. During periods of low beet prices, production will likely be concentrated near the sugar factories. In this way, transportation costs are minimised. This approach also reduces the time between crops. However, it also shortens the cropping interval, reducing yield.
When fertilizing sugar beet, a nitrogen rate is based on expected yield. The amount of nitrogen needed to produce the highest yields depends on the soil’s soil nitrate-nitrogen content. Soil nitrogen rates should be adjusted accordingly. Those whose soils contain high levels of nitrate-nitrogen should apply a rate of 10 pounds per acre.
Manure application
Applying manure to the soil and growing crops in a sugar beet fertilizer program has many benefits. Farmers can expand the pool of available acreage by using manured ground in their farming practices. A second benefit is that manure application coincides with the peak of net N mineralization and beet N uptake. Despite the nutrient benefits, manure is not the only option available for improving the fertility of sugar beet fields.
Manure applications have been shown to increase root yields compared to an F treatment. They also increased gross margins by 1.5 times. However, these results may vary with soil types, climate, and growing conditions. Still, the use of manure in a sugar beet fertilizer program will increase yields. Consequently, the benefits of manure management can be felt for many years to come.
Farmers have long used organic manures in a sugar beet fertilizer program. In the Czech Republic, the common dose for farmyard manure is between 20 to 40 tons per hectare. Organic manures are not uniformly standardized, and the amount of nutrients will vary depending on the source of the animal and the diet of the farmer. As a result, farmers may not be able to estimate how much organic matter they have applied to the soil.
In the past two years, the combined application of FYM and mineral fertilizers has varied, depending on the climatic conditions. In 2016, the yield was comparable to FYM alone while in 2017 it was slightly lower. In 2018, the drought triggered an extreme difference in yields. Nevertheless, manure application covered the needs of the beetroots throughout the growing season and provided yields. And, a combined application of FYM and mineral fertilizers can result in higher yields than the FYM alone.
Band or drill row fertilizer
Sugar beets are a versatile crop that grows in a wide variety of climates and soils. While the Northern Hemisphere has temperate climates ranging from 30-60 degrees N, they are also grown in hotter, humid environments. In these environments, beets have greater problems with disease and insects, and the crop may be of low quality. So, the best method for sugar beets is to band or drill row fertilizer and follow the instructions on the label.
Before applying the fertilizer, consider the type of crop that will benefit from it. Drill row fertilizer is applied closer to the seed, but band fertilizer is applied closer to the crop. Both methods are efficient in maximizing nutrient uptake and recovery by the crop. Drill row fertilizer may not be available in sufficient quantities. Band fertilizer, on the other hand, is applied closer to the seed, so the crop may not benefit as much as other crops.
If the sugar beet yield is greater than 23 tons per acre, add 10 pounds of nitrogen to the soil, and if the yield is lower, deduct 10 pounds. The maximum N rate suggested for sugar beet is 200 pounds per acre minus the credits for nitrogen and phosphorus. The rate recommended for band or drill row fertilizer for sugar beet is determined based on the soil organic matter content, nitrate-nitrogen levels, and soil pH at 4 feet.
Herbicides
To optimize your sugar beet fertility program, you need to understand the importance of using herbicides. While a single herbicide may be effective for sugar beet, it may not be effective for a broad spectrum of weeds. Instead, two or more herbicides may be used in conjunction to achieve broad-spectrum weed control. This is why proper weed identification is critical for implementing a successful weed management program. Knowledge of weed species, herbicide activity types and susceptibility will help you determine the best weed control program.
Herbicides are applied in three stages, depending on the weed species. Preemergence treatments are applied after planting and before the first irrigation. Postemergence treatments are applied when sugarbeet plants are seedlings. Layby treatments are often used once the crop is thinned. Herbicides will help you achieve the highest sugar yield. If you apply herbicides before sugar beet plants emerge, the weeds will be less resistant to them.
Nitrogen fertilizers will enhance the production of sucrose and root mass in sugar beets. But, they can also cause a reduction in sugarbeet quality. To maximize sugarbeet yield, avoid using excessive nitrogen. The nutrient needs of sugar beets range from eight to nine pounds of nitrogen per ton. Other nutrients necessary for sugarbeet production are phosphorus, potash, and phosphate.
Planting after legumes
If you have not already done so, plant after legumes when using sugar beet nitrogen fertilizer. These crops will benefit from a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Sugar beet is grown in 11 US states, accounting for more than 50% of the US sugar production. The best soil for sugar beets is sandy loam with a high organic matter content. It is not recommended to cultivate the soil below 12 inches, as this may cause weeds to re-take the nitrogen-rich soil.
The results of the experiment suggest that legumes should be planted after sugar beet in Central Europe. However, the effect of legumes on sugar beet growth was not significant. The authors attribute this to the multiple interactions between legumes and sugar beet fertilizer. The study compared sugar beet growth to other legumes and crops, using N-Tester values and crop rotation.
In their study, winter wheat and winter cereals were planted in fields before sugar beet. In contrast, winter wheat is the succeeding crop after sugar beet in more than 75% of the fields studied. Stein and Steinmann reported similar results in Lower Saxony. In the same year, crop sequences should match neighboring fields. The time interval between cropping dates for sugar beet and winter cereals gives an indication of the cropping density of the field.
Sulfur application
Sulfur is an important nutrient for sugar beets. In fact, sulphur is the most important mineral for plants, accounting for up to one-third of the plant’s dry matter. Its deficiency can severely reduce yields. Sulfur uptake occurs in the leaves and roots, but it is difficult for plants with low sulphur content to make full use of nitrogen. Symptoms of low sulphur are similar to those of low nitrogen, but tend to appear first in the youngest leaves.
Sulfur application reduces yield of sugar beets. The crop also has a lower nitrogen content than wheat, and should be planted after legumes. Also, manure application should be avoided. Excess nitrogen supply reduces sugar content in beets and increases impurities. Hence, nitrogen applications should be avoided during sugar beet production. These recommendations are based on previous crop credits. However, it is not advisable to seed sugar beets immediately after sweet clover or alfalfa, as the results are inconsistent.
For best results, nitrogen rates should be adjusted accordingly. The recommended nitrogen rate for sugar beets is about 80 to 100 pounds per acre, while the nitrogen rate for corn should be around 30 pounds per acre. However, if the crop yield is below the recommended 23 tons per acre, the N rate should be adjusted accordingly. In addition, nitrogen rates should be based on the total soil organic matter and soil nitrate-nitrogen content at four feet.