2020 OFFICIAL CODED TRIALS
A Look Back Is the Start of Forward Thinking.
2020 Official Coded Variety Trials
Starting in 1982, an approval system was implemented that utilized data from the official trials to select varieties that met specific requirements. The growers continue to receive data from these official trials to assist in selecting varieties.
Variety Selector
The Variety Selector is intended to assist growers in selecting appropriate seed varieties by identifying varieties with characteristics that are known to be consistent with the information provided by the grower.
View Official Trial Location Sites
Results
Results from the Official Variety Trials sites were good to excellent. Stands in the trials were generally very good this year. Seven sites were used for variety approval calculations. Two sites were abandoned due to erratic emergence (St. Thomas and Hillsboro) and one due to water damage (Stephen). Three sites were used for performance of Aphanomyces Specialty varieties under Aphanomyces conditions (Climax, Grandin, and Perley). Rhizoctonia presence was minimal in 2020. AZteroid (in-furrow), seed treatments, and one application of Quadris (POST) were utilized for Rhizoctonia management. Based upon susceptible plot observations, root aphids were present in low levels at one site. Revenue calculations in 2020 are based on a hypothetical $45.12 payment (five-year rolling average) at 17.5% sugar and 1.5% SLM not considering hauling or production costs.
Fusarium ratings are from two Moorhead sites. The Rhizoctonia ratings are from two RRV nurseries. The Aphanomyces ratings are from Shakopee, MN, and two RRV nurseries. The Cercospora data is from Foxhome, MN; Randolph, MN; and Michigan USDA.
2020 harvest conditions were excellent. Soil moisture levels remained average to dry throughout the months of August and September, creating good harvest conditions in all five Factory Districts for all involved. With a slightly earlier OVT harvest start date and the benefit of our new harvester, the harvest completion date was earlier than previous years.
The 2020 data has been combined with the previous years’ data, and results are enclosed. Bolter data is presented in plants per acre based upon 60,000 seeds per acre. Results for the yield trials from individual sites are available on the internet.
Conventional trials were not planted in the 2020 OVT trials. Conventional varieties that were approved for 2020 sales are permitted to continue with sales in 2021.
These results and additional information for individual growing sites are available on the World Wide Web at www.crystalsugar.com. More detailed information will be available later in the Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports.
2021 Grower Information Includes:
- List of varieties approved for sale to ACSC growers
- Multi-year performance of RR varieties from all sites
- Performance of RR varieties under Aphanomyces conditions
- Disease ratings for all nurseries (varieties tested in 2020)
- Root Aphid rating/evaluation
- Trial sites, disease observations, and agronomic information from all trial locations
- Seed treatments applied to seed used in the official coded variety trials
2021 Grower Information (Excel)
Links to 2020 data only follow:
Plot Procedures
Yield trials were planted to stand at 4.5 inches. Plots were planted crosswise (90°) to the cooperators’ normal farming operations, where possible. Plot row lengths for all official trials were maintained at 46 feet with about 39 feet harvested. Planting was performed with a 12-row SRES vacuum planter. The GPS controlled planter gave good single seed spacing which facilitated emergence counting. Seed companies had the option of treating seed with Tachigaren, insecticide, and a Rhizoctonia seed treatment fungicide. Emergence counts were taken on 24 feet from each plot. Multiple seedlings were counted as a single plant if they emerged less than 1 inch apart. The stands in all yield trials were refined by removing doubles (multiple seedlings less than 1.5 inch apart) by hand but were not further reduced.
Roundup PowerMAX with Event (water conditioning agent + surfactant) and full rates of fungicides were applied using a pickup sprayer driven down the alleys. Hand weeding was utilized where necessary. All yield trials were treated with Quadris in a band during the 6-10 leaf stage (14 oz/acre) for Rhizoctonia management. Treatments used for Cercospora management in 2020 included Inspire XT/Manzate, Agri Tin/Incognito, Proline/Manzate, and Priaxor/Agri Tin. Ground spraying was conducted by ACSC technical staff.
RR varieties with commercial seed were planted in four-row, six replication trials. The RR experimental entries were planted in smaller two-row, four replication trials. Two applications of Roundup PowerMAX were made in the 4-6 (32 oz/acre) and 8-12 (22 oz/acre) leaf stages.
All plot rows were measured for total length after approximately 3.5 feet at each end were removed at the end of August, with skips greater than 60 inches being measured for adjustment purposes. Harvest was performed with one customized six-row harvester (Big Red) with increased cleaning capacity. All harvested beets of each plot were used for yield determination while one sample (approx. 25 lb. each) for sugar, and impurity analysis was obtained from each plot. Quality analysis was performed at the ACSC Technical Services Quality Lab in Moorhead, MN.
Varieties were planted in disease nurseries in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan to evaluate varieties for disease tolerance. ACSC adjusts the Cercospora, Aphanomyces, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium nursery data each year to provide a consistent target for variety approval criteria.
Root Aphid evaluations are included from Shakopee's greenhouse and a Ft. Collins, CO, field location.
Before purchasing seed, please check to make sure the varieties you are buying are on the current approved list. In accordance with the grower contract, the cooperative has the option to refuse beets of a non-approved variety. If you have questions, please contact the ACSC Technical Services Center or your ACSC Agriculture Department.