This report is sponsored by Betaseed—they want to wish growers a safe and productive planting season, and are ready to support Michigan and Ontario sugarbeet growers with add-on seed needs. Betaseed: where research breeds confidence.
Sugarbeet planting is well underway in the Thumb region, and it’s estimated that roughly 10,000 acres of beets have been planted. Rob Gerstenberger, sales manager with Betaseed, says growers need to keep planting depth in mind when getting your planter set up.
“In some cases when you put on new seed discs, you’ll find your planter may plant a little deeper than normal,” he said. “Quite often when there’s a problem with emergence, the grower got in a rush hand got the seed in too deep. I like to see early planted sugarbeet seed put in about three-quarters of an inch.”
With so many beets being planted before the beginning of April, Gerstenberger says having this type of foundation will set growers and the Michigan Sugar Company up for a productive season.
“We’re always a lot more successful if we can get them in early,” said Gerstenberger. “That’s an advantage to sugarbeets—very resilient crop. They like cool, wet conditions in the spring for emergence, and that’s going to be a huge part of our success. The long season allows the peat to put more sugar in the root.”
The beets that are already in the ground have started to germinate.
“There’s nothing emerged yet, but as we start to see some warmer temperatures, we’re going to start to see some of the seedlings start to emerge,” said Gerstenberger.
As the season unfolds, Gerstenberger encourages growers to keep safety top of mind.
“Spring gets to be quite a rush, and you’re excited to get out in the field and get planting, but just be extra careful,” he said.
Gerstenberger wants to assure growers that if they run out of seed, to contact their local Betaseed rep because there are adequate seed inventories.
