Writer: Pam Dillard (806) 677-5600, p-dillard@tamu.edu
Contact: Charles Rush (806) 354-5804
AMARILLO — Sugar beets thriving in the Panhandle? It could happen again, if scientists like Charles Rush, plant pathologist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and a group of area growers have anything to say about it.
On Sept. 10, Rush’s test plots at the Experiment Station will be opened for a sugar beet research briefing and tour. Rush is set to present some encouraging news for producers about disease management and his findings.
Visitors must register at the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation and Production Research Laboratory Building before traveling to the field plots, south of the main campus.
The station is located three-quarters of a mile west of Bushland on the I-40 access road. The state and federal facility is operated by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with tours starting no later than 9:30 a.m. and ending before 11 a.m.
Topics will include a detailed research update on Rush’s work that screened 13 varieties this year.
“We planted beets in heavily diseased plots and in healthier ones,” he said. In previous years, the pathologist ran trials in small-size plots, but this year Rush included more ground.
“Several of these lines are looking great,” said Rush, whose work with grower groups in northern states, such as Minnesota, has enabled this research to continue.
“We’ve had additional support through the American Crystal Sugar Beet Cooperatives, so our research has continued without much interruption.”
Other topics will focus on improvements in fungicides and genetic resistance. Also, officials with the area’s sugar beet commodity association will update participants on recent federal legislation enabling a new feasibility study targeting a return of regional production. The officials will review efforts that have continued past 1997, the final year of the crop’s viability here.
“We also need the growers to come out for this event to help assess the amount of interest out there,” said Kenneth Frye of Hereford, president of the Texas and New Mexico Sugar Beet Growers Association.
Rush said area growers got out of the sugar beet business for several reasons, but two of the most important were disease problems that caused real economic woes and the closing of the only processing plant.
Area communities also felt the loss of production pinch. Growers around Dawn, Dimmitt, Etter, Hereford, Kress and Wildorado would like to see a resurgence of beets. Still cautious, Rush and some area producers see some hopeful signs on the horizon.
“We’re encouraging growers to attend to learn more about what we have been working on since 1997, and the recent production improvements and commodity efforts aimed at bringing sugar beets back to the Panhandle,” the plant pathologist said.
For more information about the Sept. 10 tour, contact Rush at (806) 354-5804.
-30-
