PLSC 350 ‑ Sugarbeet Production
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Dwain W. Meyer
470E Loftsgard Hall
Telephone: 231‑8154
E‑mail: Dwain.Meyer@ndsu.edu
Several guest lectures by local experts
as indicated below.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss optimum sugarbeet production
practices based on the latest research available.
RATIONALE: The Red River Valley and southwestern Minnesota
is the largest dryland sugarbeet‑producing area in
the United States with over 750,000 acres. Students
returning to sugarbeet‑producing farms or those
interested in the consulting or certified crop production specialist jobs upon graduation should be exposed to optimum production practices.
TIME: 2:00 to 3:50 p.m. TR; first half of semester.
CREDITS: 2
TOPICS COVERED:
Aug. 21 ‑ Introduction, Web site, history
Aug. 23 ‑ Growth and development (Dr. Karen Klotz), payment system
Aug. 28 ‑ Cultivar selection, seed production, cultivar improvement (Dr. Larry Campbell)
Aug. 30 ‑ Tillage options, seedbed preparation, planting (Dr. Laura Overstreet)
Sep. 4 ‑ Planting date, planting depth, seed spacing, planter test stands (Dr. Laura Overstreet)
Sep. 6 ‑ Field selection, what is quality seed, seed size, plant population, row spacing,
crop rotations (Dr. Mohamed Khan))
Sep. 11 ‑ Soil fertility/fertilization, micronutrients (Dr. Mohamed Khan or Dr. Allan Cattanach)
Sep. 13 ‑ EXAM
Sep. 18 - Weed control (Dr. Alan Dexter)
Sep. 20 ‑ Weed control (Dr. Alan Dexter)
Sep. 25 ‑ Harvest, storage, processing, by-products (Kelly Thomas)
Sep. 27 - Disease management (Dr. Sam Markell)
Oct. 2 - Disease management (Dr. Sam Markell)
Oct. 4 - Insect management (Dr. Mark Boetel)
Oct. 9 - EXAM
Oct. 11 - Tour of American Crystal Sugar Co.??
RESOURCES: Cenex/Land O'Lakes Sugarbeet Manual
World Wide Web - www.sbreb.org
GRADING: A = >90%; B = 80‑89%; C = 70‑79%; D = 60‑69%
(Based on the average of two 100-point exams. Final grade is scaled.)
Students with a disability should contact the instructor for needed special arrangements.
The HONOR SYSTEM used in the College of Agriculture and NDSU will be used in this class. See the instructor if you are unfamiliar with the honor system.
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