Informational meetings on the economics of industrial beet production are scheduled at five locations in central North Dakota during the week of March 17.
Industrial beets, also called energy beets, are varieties of beets bred for industrial sugars that can be converted to a wide range of biofuels and chemicals. The meetings will provide farmers with economic information and tools to help them decide whether to grow industrial beets. Inputs, equipment, production costs and expected returns will be discussed.
“Farmers voiced strong interest in growing beets for industrial purposes during meetings held in late January," said David Ripplinger, NDSU Extension Service bioproducts and bioenergy economist and assistant professor. "However, they were clear that more information, especially on economics, was needed before making a decision.”
Meeting locations, dates and times are:
• Jamestown – Tuesday, March 18, 1 to 3 p.m., Farmers Union headquarters
• Valley City – Tuesday, March 18, 9 to 11 a.m., Eagles Club
• Cando – Wednesday, March 19, 1 to 3 p.m., Extension Service office, Towner County
• Carrington – Wednesday, March 19, 9 to 11 a.m., Carrington Research Extension Center
• Langdon – Thursday, March 20, 1 to 3 p.m., Cavalier County Courthouse
The development of beets as a new industrial crop is a partnership between Green Vision Group based in Fargo and Heartland Renewable Energy based in Muscatine, Iowa. The research component is led by NDSU.
The North Dakota Renewable Energy Council, North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission and many communities and private companies provide additional project funding.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.