Back in July 2008, I had read about some tropical sugarbeet varieties that a seed company called Syngenta had. At that time I wondered if anyone had ever tried growing sugarbeets in the wintertime in southern Louisiana. I talked with several people at work about the subject, and even suggested that we get some seed and try planting in September or October and see how the plants would do as a winter crop. In case people who read this blog think I'm blowing smoke, key 'Tropical Sugarbeets' into "Search" above and read my blog entry for July 28, 2008.
The idea finally got traction when someone from within the industry asked us about tropical sugarbeets around September. Now that it the industry showed an interest, we were able to move full speed ahead. We got sugarbeet seed from three sources: Michigan (a more humid environment like ours), California (Imperial Valley, a dry environment, but where beets are commercially grown in the winter time), and Syngenta (so-called tropical beets grown mostly in India). We got the Michigan and California seed early enough to plant sugarbeets in October at our location in Houma (not at our farm). It has now been about seven months since the sugarbeets were planted. I believe they were sampled in March and April. Tomorrow they will be sampled for the last time. The beets have grown to a very impressive size. The one I am holding, a California variety, weighed in at 13 lbs. It will be very interesting to find out what the sugar content is tomorrow. Could Louisiana have two sugar crops, and run their mills for more than just four months out of the year? If the sugar content is above 15%, which exceeds the levels sugarcane can attain, I believe that there will be some growers and processors who will show considerable interest.
Back in July 2008, I had read about some tropical sugarbeet varieties that a seed company called Syngenta had. At that time I wondered if anyone had ever tried growing sugarbeets in the wintertime in southern Louisiana. I talked with several people at work about the subject, and even suggested that we get some seed and try planting in September or October and see how the plants would do as a winter crop. In case people who read this blog think I'm blowing smoke, key 'Tropical Sugarbeets' into "Search" above and read my blog entry for July 28, 2008.
The idea finally got traction when someone from within the industry asked us about tropical sugarbeets around September. Now that it the industry showed an interest, we were able to move full speed ahead. We got sugarbeet seed from three sources: Michigan (a more humid environment like ours), California (Imperial Valley, a dry environment, but where beets are commercially grown in the winter time), and Syngenta (so-called tropical beets grown mostly in India). We got the Michigan and California seed early enough to plant sugarbeets in October at our location in Houma (not at our farm). It has now been about seven months since the sugarbeets were planted. I believe they were sampled in March and April. Tomorrow they will be sampled for the last time. The beets have grown to a very impressive size. The one I am holding, a California variety, weighed in at 13 lbs. It will be very interesting to find out what the sugar content is tomorrow. Could Louisiana have two sugar crops, and run their mills for more than just four months out of the year? If the sugar content is above 15%, which exceeds the levels sugarcane can attain, I believe that there will be some growers and processors who will show considerable interest.
3 comments:
I had no idea sugar beets could get so big! That will be really cool if they worked out as a winter crop for LA farmers. I'm always impressed by how innovative you are. You'll have to keep us posted!
Wow that's a huge sugar beet. That's awesome that you came up with the idea. Hope it works out for the LA farmers!
Holy cow that this is HUUUUUGGGGEEEE!!! I remember that Loveland use to have a big sugar beet industry--as did most of northern Colorado. I don't know why we don't follow Brazil more on this sugar energy thing.
I think each region could do what alternative fuel works best in their region: Solar in the sunbelt, wind in the wind corridor and sugar in the South, etc.
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