> EasyLiftª automatic depth cont rol for each single row. > CALL OUR PARTNERS FOR YOUR BEST DEAL!
> Now available for the US and Canada: 4-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 9-, 12-row harvesters with row widths of 20, 22, 24, 28 and 30 inches.
> ND & MN - Jacob - 701-284-6100
> WY - Robert - 307-388-0736
FOR A CLEANER LOADER? TERRA FELIS 3
and independent testing (Seligenstadt, Germany). Best output per hour, lowest beet loss, lowest tare.
> Proven performance in MI, MN and ID.
Help your sugarbeets reach their sweetest potential
How does more recoverable sucrose sound? With fast-acting protection against Cercospora Leaf Spot, your sugarbeets can live up to their sweetest, most profitable potential.
GROWERS EYE ROOT MAGGOT FLY TRAPS AS SEASON PROGRESSES
Root maggots are costly to sugarbeet growers. U of I entomologist Erik Wenninger says growers should make management decisions by monitoring flies.
CALENDAR
NEW PRODUCTS
Latest and greatest
OFF THE TOP
News, people and updates
22 14 20
BUYER’S GUIDE
Trucks, Bulk Beds, Trailers
FROM THE ASGA
ASGA Monitoring Three Key Issues For Sugar
FROM THE AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE
Following Changing Consumer Trends … And What That Means For Sugar
CALENDAR
JUNE 3 AND 5
12TH ANNUAL AG WORLD GOLF CLASSIC
June 3 – Canyon Lake Golf Course, Kennewick, WA
June 5 – The Links at Moses Pointe, Moses Lake, WA https://agworldgolf.com
JUNE 23-26
WORLD ASSOCIATION OF BEET AND CANE GROWERS COUNCIL Cairns, Australia wabcg.org
JUNE 25
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO FIELD DAY - KIMBERLY
UI Kimberly Research and Extension Center Kimberly, ID amjackson@uidaho.edu
JULY 14
POTATO GROWER MAGAZINE GOLF TOURNAMENT
Idaho Falls Country Club Idaho Falls, ID www.potatogrower.com/golf
JULY 31-AUGUST 1
NATIONAL STRIP-TILLAGE CONFERENCE
Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center Iowa City, IA www.striptillfarmer.com/NSTC
AUGUST 1-6
INTERNATIONAL SWEETENER SYMPOSIUM
Grand Traverse Resort Traverse City, MI https://sugaralliance.org
AUGUST 3-6
SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa, CA www.swcs.org/events
AUGUST 4-6
AGRONOMY CONFERENCE & EXPO
JW Marriott Hotel Indianapolis, IN tfi.org
AUGUST 13-14
IDAHO IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATION SUMMER MEETING Twin Falls, ID Idahoirrigationequipment association.org
AUGUST 20-21
MIDWEST AG INDUSTRIES EXPOSITION (MAGIE) McLean County Fairgrounds Bloomington, IL www.ifca.com/MAGIE
AUGUST 26-28
FARM PROGRESS SHOW Decatur, IL www.farmprogressshow.com
SEPTEMBER 9-11
HUSKER HARVEST DAYS Grand Island, NE huskerharvestdays.com
NOVEMBER 9-11
BIG IRON FARM SHOW
Red River Valley Fairgrounds West Fargo, ND www.bigironfarmshow.com
NOVEMBER 19-21
MONTANA AGRITOURISM CONFERENCE
Montana State University Bozeman, MT www.montanaagritourism.com/ events-2-1
DECEMBER 8-11
IRRIGATION SHOW
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA irrigation.org
JANUARY 9-14, 2026
AMERICAN FARM BUREAU CONVENTION Anaheim, CA fb.org
JANUARY 25-27, 2026
AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort Indian Wells, CA www.americansugarbeet.org
PUBLISHER Jason Harris
EDITOR Lane Lindstrom lane@sugarproducer.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Rob Erickson rob.erickson@sugarproducer.com
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Chuck Harris
PRODUCTION STAFF Lavon Horne Laci Thompson
IT DIRECTOR Chuck Harris
CONTROLLER Clayton Ward
PRESIDENT Jason Harris VICE PRESIDENT Chuck Harris VICE PRESIDENT Ryan Harris TREASURER Clayton Ward
Basic subscription rates are: U.S., 1 year-$20, nine issues; Canada/International 1 year, $90 U.S., nine issues. All subscriptions are U.S. funds only. Limited back issues available for $10 U.S. each.
Sugar Producer Magazine is published nine times yearly. 2025, Harris Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Publisher not responsible for content of submitted materials.
Back copies or subscriptions: (208) 524-7000
AMERICAN SUGARBEET GROWERS ASSOCIATION (202) 833-2398 www.americansugarbeet.org
U.S. BEET SUGAR ASSOCIATION (202) 296-4820
AMERICAN SUGAR ALLIANCE (703) 351-5055 | www.sugaralliance.org
BEET SUGAR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (303) 832-4460
SUGAR ASSOCIATION, INC. (202) 785-1122 | www.sugar.org
HARRIS PUBLISHING, INC. 190 1ST Street Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (208) 524-7000 FOUNDER Darryl W. Harris
NEW PRODUCTS
TRIMBLE, PTX TRIMBLE EXPAND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO MAINTAIN PRECISION AND CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS IN THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
Trimble and PTx Trimble announced the availability of Trimble IonoGuard for the precision agriculture industry. IonoGuard is a next-generation technology engineered to enhance RTK GNSS signal tracking and hardware positioning performance.
IonoGuard helps ensure more reliable and accurate positioning by reducing the risk of signal loss and maintaining signal integrity during challenging ionospheric conditions.
Every 11 years, solar activity peaks, causing ionospheric disturbances such as scintillation and signal noise that can result in unreliable positioning. Solar Cycle 25, which began in 2024 and is expected to last through 2026, could pose significant challenges with the potential for global disruptions. While solar cycle disturbances are a phenomena noticed by few in most occurrences, high-precision RTK GNSS users in equatorial regions are regularly impacted by solar activity year-round, inflicting costly interruptions on agricultural operations.
Customer Testing And Validation
“There was no question when asked if we wanted to test IonoGuard,” said Michael Munro, general manager, Sales and Marketing of Vantage Australia. “Knowing we can better weather the next major solar storm with less risk for signal loss and improved signal availability and precision during such a disturbance provides peace of mind knowing we can still get the work done.”
“The solar storm experienced in May 2024 put IonoGuard to the test and, based on feedback from our beta testers like Vantage Australia, demonstrated the value of this technology to enable uninterrupted work in the midst of significant solar activity,” said Andrew Sunderman, vice president, Product & Customer
Experience at PTx Trimble. “When a solar storm hits, work might be stopped due to signal loss, resulting in downtime, increased labor costs and potentially wasted inputs during planting and spraying. We’re extremely proud to offer a solution that truly minimizes this risk by decreasing downtime, reducing costs for the farmer and keeping the agriculture industry up and running all day, every day.”
Availability
Trimble IonoGuard is available on the PTx Trimble NAV900 guidance controller via the latest PTx Trimble Precision-IQ firmware release and Trimble base stations that support the ProPoint GNSS positioning engine, sold and distributed by PTx Trimble. When combined, users can achieve maximum RTK performance.
For more information, visit https://ptxtrimble.com.
NEW HOLLAND LAUNCHES INTELLISENSE SPRAYER AUTOMATION
New Holland has introduced IntelliSense Sprayer Automation, the most comprehensive application automation solution on the market and a factory offering for new Model Year 2026 Guardian series front boom sprayers: the SP310F, SP370F and SP410F.
The system can be used on a wide spectrum of crops — from corn, soybeans and cotton to pulse crops and small grains like wheat and canola — with an unprecedented list of full-season application functions, including herbicide, fungicide, plant growth regulator, nitrogen and harvest aid. This technology is accessible with no annual subscription requirements or per-acre fees.
Unique Positioning Creates An Eagle Eye Vantage
Unlike other smart apply technology familiar to North American applicators and farmers, which employ multiple boom-mounted cameras, IntelliSense Sprayer Automation uses a single cabmounted, factory-fit SenseApply Camera unit.
The SenseApply camera unit is a forward-looking, multi-spectral vision system that enables IntelliSense Sprayer Automation to continuously scan upcoming field conditions (50 feet out in front of the sprayer) across the full width of the boom from a high vantage point atop the cab. The result: an expanded vision
of the field that generates quicker and longer leading assessments, allowing the operator to drive and apply accurately at a faster speed than any other sense and act technology on the market today.
Comprehensive Group Of Unique Sprayer Functions Drives Application Productivity
The leading aspect of the new IntelliSense Sprayer Automation is its Selective Spray function. It offers operators the choice of two application types to enhance herbicide applications: Spot Spraying and Base + Boost.
Spot Spraying utilizes green-on-brown functionality and operates by detecting weeds smaller in stature (less than two inches in height) and activates nozzles on
the boom that correspond to the location of the detected weed.
Where an operator is applying a broadcast herbicide over a field, Base + Boost mode applies a uniform base rate across the entire coverage width and activates a localized boost rate from nozzles where weeds are detected. When the SenseApply camera identifies a weed, IntelliSense Sprayer Automation boosts the maximum application rate for that single weed within the herbicide’s prescription rate range.
These two operations offer farmers enhanced capabilities to utilize their herbicide application: the ability to apply a broadcast herbicide to knock out smaller weeds and a prescription rate to manage larger weeds. Within both Selective Spray modes, the operator can alter sensitivity and coverage area. This means the operator can adjust the system’s responsiveness to weed size based on a scale of small, medium or high and the target application area where a weed is detected.
IntelliSense Sprayer Automation will be available factory-fit on Model Year 2026 Guardian series front boom sprayers — the SP310F, SP370F and SP410F.
For more information, visit https:// agriculture.newholland.com/en-us/nar.
SUMMERS
MANUFACTURING
UNVEILS NEW STRIP TILL EQUIPMENT LINES: INTRODUCING VERDANT, APEX MODELS
Summers Manufacturing announced the launch of its new strip till equipment line featuring two distinct models: the Verdant and the Apex.
These high-performance units are designed to provide farmers with versatile solutions for precision strip tillage and fertilizer application.
The new strip till equipment line offers farmers a robust set of standard features designed for precision, durability and ease of use:
• High-capacity hydraulic systems requiring minimum 50 gallon per minute at 3,000 psi
• Powerful row units with coulter unit requirement of 15 hp per row and shank unit requirement of 25 hp per row
• Comprehensive 1-year parts and labor warranty
• Individual scales per bin section for accurate application monitoring
• Large 3-inch fertilizer delivery lines for efficient nutrient placement
• ISO Raven RCM rate controller and section control standard on all dry fertilizer units
• Factory-installed and calibrated ISO rate controllers
• Tank features include:
• Large openings for quick and easy filling
• Adaptable bolt-together structure
• Easy-to-clean design
• 10-gauge 304 stainless steel construction
• Stainless steel filter grating system
Verdant: Versatile Performance For Small To Mid-Size Operations
The Verdant model offers flexibility for farmers with small to medium operations:
• Available in 15- or 30-foot toolbar configurations
• Two dry fertilizer options capable of applying up to 900 lbs @ 5mph at 60 inches of water column pressure:
• 12-ton 2-bin system with 50/50 split
• 14-ton 2-bin system with 50/50 split
• Liquid fertilizer is an option
Apex: Premium Performance For Custom Applicators And Large-Scale Operations
The Apex model delivers maximum capacity and versatility for larger farming operations:
• Available in 30-, 40-, or 60-foot toolbar configurations
• Five dry fertilizer options capable of applying up to 1,200 lbs @ 5mph at 60 inches of water column pressure:
• 14-ton 2-bin system with 60/40 split
• 14-ton 3-bin system with 40/20/40 split
• 17-ton 2-bin system with 60/40 split
• 17-ton 3-bin system with 40/20/40 split
• Liquid fertilizer is an option
• Standard equipment includes auto grease system, hydraulic jack, and electric tarp
For more information, visit https:// summersmfg.com/application-products/ strip-till.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BEET SUGAR COOPERATIVE TO DECOMMISSION SPRECKELS SUGAR COMPANY, INC. IN CALIFORNIA
Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC) announced the decommissioning of its Brawley, California, operations under its subsidiary, Spreckels Sugar Company, Inc. Operations are scheduled to begin the decommissioning and closure process at the nearly 100-year-old facility in late July 2025 as the current processing season winds down. Certain functions, including warehousing and shipping, will continue to operate until all products have left the facilities, likely in late 2025 or early 2026.
This decision comes after a thorough evaluation of the longterm financial and operational challenges facing the facility as well as an assessment of the economic challenges and uncertainty facing the sugar industry that have been building for several years.
Over the past several years, the U.S. sugar industry has faced various external factors that have hurt the industry, including the uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment, declines in sugar and co-product prices, and the impact of inflation since the pandemic – all affecting sugar factories across the country.
The industry also faces added pressure from foreign sugar sources in domestic markets due to the increased volume of tier-2 imports. On top of this, the U.S. Sugar Program and its out-of-date loan rates for refined beet sugar have neither kept up with inflation nor the rising costs of production. The result is that the Spreckels facility has suffered cumulative losses over more than a decade. Taken as a whole, it was determined these factors make the future of the Brawley facility not financially viable.
“This was a difficult decision brought about by factors largely out of our control. Despite our extensive investments in the facility, the economic challenges facing the sugar industry have been building for several years as the costs of operating the Spreckels facility have continued to escalate. As a result, we made the difficult decision to close the Brawley factory and carefully focus our resources on the Renville, Minnesota factory given its strong performance and updated technologies,” said Paul Fry, president and chief executive officer of SMBSC. “We appreciate the California Beet Growers Association (CBGA) working with us over the years and are proud of this facility and the workers who have operated it. During this transition, our focus remains on supporting the workers at the Brawley factory and the community.”
Since purchasing the facility, SMBSC has invested a significant amount in the factory, the workers at the facility, and the surrounding community. In the past 10 years, SMBSC has invested close to $100 million in the nearly century-old facility to make improvements and repairs to try to modernize it. It also increased total annual compensation paid to employees more than 66 percent during that time frame. Despite these investments, the facility has lost money over the past 10 years. SMBSC will instead focus its resources on the Renville, Minnesota factory considering its strong performance, modern technologies, industry-leading production capacity, and logistical advantages. Focusing SMBSC’s resources on the Renville facility will help ensure the continued viability of the cooperative and best support SMBSC’s business and broader workforce into the future.
Since 2000, 28 sugarbeet and sugarcane facilities have closed, leaving 43 remaining, as organizations wrestle with the economic realities the sugar industry faces and the need for higher yield, more efficient facilities to survive. The Brawley facility was the last remaining sugarbeet processing facility in California.
This decision also comes after years of SMBSC discussing with the CBGA the long-term financial and operational challenges facing the facility. Unfortunately, it would require a $100 million or more in capital investments to make the Brawley facility financially viable – investments that the cooperative’s business cannot support.
Commitment To Employees And Community
SMBSC recognizes the impact of this decision on its dedicated workforce and the surrounding community. The company is implementing comprehensive support programs, including severance packages, job placement services, retraining programs, and counseling services to assist affected employees.
Commitment To Quality And Service
Until the factory’s closure, SMBSC remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of quality, service, and regulatory compliance. The company assures its customers and regulators that all current commitments will be honored during the transition period. SMBSC’s marketing partners, National Sugar Marketing (NSM) and Midwest Agri-Commodities (MAC), will contact affected customers directly to communicate the process being undertaken and ensure there are no supply disruptions during this transition.
Future Opportunities
As part of its strategic shift, SMBSC is exploring new avenues for growth and partnership opportunities at the facility. SMBSC is engaging with local stakeholders to explore repurposing the property to support economic development within the community. The company is committed to maintaining positive community relations and transparency throughout this process.
MICHIGAN SUGAR REDUCES ACREAGE THROUGH CANADIAN SHARE REDEMPTION PROGRAM
Michigan Sugar Company has completed a share redemption program through which the cooperative’s grower-owners in Ontario, Canada, sold back 3,582 shares, reducing Canadian acres for planting sugarbeets from 10,898 acres to 7,316 acres – or nearly 33 percent. Following the redemption program, Michigan Sugar Company now has 57 shareholders remaining in Ontario’s Dover growing region, which is made up of Kent and Lambton counties.
Overall, the redemption program reduces Michigan Sugar’s total planting acres by about 2.27 percent.
Michigan Sugar Company’s roughly 865 grower-owners plant and harvest up to 140,000 acres of sugarbeets each year in 17-20 Michigan counties, as well as Ontario, Canada. Those beets are sliced at the factories and turned into about 1.3 billion pounds of sugar annually. The sugar is sold to industrial, commercial and retail customers under the Pioneer brand.
Michigan Sugar Company is the third largest of eight sugarbeet processing companies in the United States and Michigan is one of 11 states where sugarbeets are grown in the country.
BETASEED
AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
TO IDAHO FFA STUDENTS
In April 2025, Betaseed awarded scholarships totaling $2,000 to Idaho FFA Scholarship recipients Arianna Wilson and Ashlyn Strunk. Wilson and Strunk were selected from a group of 54 Betaseed Scholarship applicants.
Betaseed has supported FFA and its commitment to students and their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success in agriculture and related fields for many years.
A Future In Agronomy
Wilson is a member of the Moscow chapter, and she plans to study Crop Science and Management at the University of Idaho this fall and intends to become an agronomist. She immersed herself in learning through FFA and agriculture education courses. She’s participated in many Career and Leadership Development events: Forestry, Parliamentary Procedure, Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Greenhand
Wilson Ashlyn Strunk
Knowledge, Farm Business Management, Employment Skills, Prepared Public Speaking, Farm Bureau Discussion Meet and Agronomy, to name a few.
“When I was first a freshman at Moscow High School, I only joined an agriculture education class because I didn’t know what other classes to take. I didn’t know what FFA was or how to join,” shared Wilson. “I developed a strong passion for the agriculture industry and FFA itself. Before I was in an ag class, I wanted to have a career in criminal justice, but my adoration for this industry led me to start working at a PNW Co-op grain elevator…and ultimately decide to become an agronomist.”
Outside of FFA, Wilson enjoys helping her community through volunteering at the local nursing home, veteran’s home, on local farms, and more.
2024 sugarbeet harvest in Ontario, Canada.
Arianna
Sugarbeet root maggot has damaged several inches of this sugarbeet root. A monitoring system is essential to staying ahead of this kind of potential damage.
MONITORING KEY GROWERS MAGGOT SEASON
BY BRENDA CAROL
It’s about that time. The crop is up, the weather is warm and the race is on to see who ultimately harvests the sugar – the grower or the maggot.
Sugarbeet root maggot is one of the most destructive pests growers face in any given year. Left untreated, or inadequately treated, larvae can devastate profits by lowering both tonnage and sucrose content.
Post-emergence control is the preferred management strategy to deal with sugarbeet root maggot, according to Erik Wenninger, Ph.D., Entomologist, University of Idaho, Kimberly Research and Extension Center.
“I believe that post-emergence application informed by fly monitoring is the most costeffective approach because it avoids having to apply insecticides unnecessarily before pest densities are known,” Wenninger says.
SORTING THROUGH THE UNCERTAINTY
Various post-emergence pesticides are available for sugarbeet root maggot control and can be used effectively depending on a grower’s strategy to address the pest and the potential severity of the infestation.
While it appears that chlorpyrifos will be available in 2025 for sugarbeet growers in some states, the uncertainty of future availability looms formidably. Forward looking growers are already evaluating their options should that scenario play out in upcoming seasons. Luckily there are options – even at post-emergence.
As growers consider post-emergence options, terbufos and phorate are two options available that target larvae, while various pyrethroid postemergence sprays can be used to knock down adult flies. AgLogic 15GG aldicarb, a granular insecticide/nematicide also targeting
GROWERS EYE ROOT MAGGOT FLY TRAPS AS SEASON PROGRESSES
KEY FOR POST-EMERGENCE APPLICATIONS
larvae, is another post-emergence option that has seen resurgence in recent years due to its efficacy.
For moderate to high levels of projected sugar beet root maggot, AgLogic 15GG is usually the preferred option – especially when root maggot populations are forecast in the moderate to high range.
“In years of trials, aldicarb (AgLogic 15GG) has been the most effective product to control sugar beet root maggot,” Wenninger says.
WATER SOLUBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
AgLogic 15GG has advantage in post-emergence sugarbeet root maggot management due to its high water solubility which allows for more flexibility in timing of application, according to Wenninger.
“Other products such as terbufos and phorate are similar in that they can be applied post-emergence,” Wenninger says. “But they may need to be applied in ‘anticipation’ of the threshold being reached based on monitoring data and previous experience since these products will require more time to be taken up by the plant.”
MONITORING PROGRAM
Monitoring is key for post-emergence success. Amalgamated Sugar Company has ramped up sugarbeet root maggot fly monitoring across much of its purview over the past few years.
The program is straightforward and very effective. Sticky traps are deployed adjacent to sugarbeet fields – usually around April or the first of May – and monitored for adult flies. Results from the sticky traps are then used to predict impending maggot larvae
This close-up of sugarbeet root maggot is a visual reminder that no one needs to try to convince sugarbeet growers how destructive root maggots can be to their crop. Using fly traps can be a cost-effective way to monitor the flies and help determine what course of action to take to minimize potential damage.
populations in the soil that will feed on plant roots hampering plant development. Larval root feeding also inflicts wounds that can lead to increased root-rot disease, potentially resulting in severe stand loss.
“When those sticky traps for adult flies hit the action threshold, growers know they’re going to need to do something,” Wenninger says. “AgLogic 15GG at postemergence works very well under this scenario due to its water solubility. That makes it especially effective under irrigated scenarios because we can add as much water as needed to initiate uptake into the plant as quickly as possible.”
INCREASING MAGGOT PRESSURE
While it’s difficult to pinpoint what
exact factors lead to heavy root maggot infestations from season to season, Wenninger says the pest seems to be an increasingly worrisome issue.
“In Idaho where root maggots are the most abundant, the monitoring program has identified about two-thirds of fields that were monitored had economic thresholds that justified treatment,” he says. “That’s been fairly consistent for the past four seasons or so. It’s changed over the years, but root maggots are a real threat worthy of monitoring every single year.”
Luckily sugarbeet growers have a head start on maggots due to the monitoring program. While the maggots might deem it an unfair advantage, growers still have the post-emerge tactics to win the race.
BUYER’S GUIDE
TRUCKS, BULK BEDS, TRAILERS
LOGAN LOAD PRO
Logan’s Load Pro truck bed is designed and constructed for years of excellent performance. Its 100-inch-wide body provides the largest capacity from 20 to 30 feet in length. With construction of standard carbon steel and complete stainless steel, the Load Pro is capable of meeting all your needs.
Main components such as the side door, non-door and main frame rails are one piece, providing strength and longevity. Important structural members are bolted into place, allowing twisting and torsion to happen without cracking.
The beds are feature-rich and have unique advantages such as large 3-inch carryup rollers, heavy side support ribs spaced close together, upper rear hydraulic doors, turnbuckle ratchet take-ups and more. All Logan equipment is sandblasted, primed and painted with a high-gloss polyurethane paint that is very durable and provides years of attractive quality.
H&S Mfg. was incorporated in 1971 and has been making carts for more than 30 years. The company offers model sizes ranging from 30-, 35- and 44-ton with a 50-ton option available in 2026. Adding efficiency to harvest is critical, especially with unpredictable weather. Don’t leave your high value crop at risk. H&S’s unload options include 42-, 52- and 64-inch widths. The 64-inch option will rival unload speeds of any transfer cart while still offering cleaning capabilities. Carts can be run hydraulically with ease or a PTO option is available. Various tire options are available along with tracks. Water kits, scale kits and plastic options are available, along with boom vertical height adjustments options for those piling windrows in the field. H&S is field tested and farmer approved.
H&S Mfg., Inc
(800) ROW-CROP www.hsmfginc.com
STRONG BOX LIVE BOTTOMS
With more than 50 years of proven performance, the Strong Box Semi Trailer is the trusted name in live bottom hauling. Designed for versatility, strength and efficiency, it’s the ideal solution for farmers and haulers who demand reliability in every load.
Whether you’re moving sugarbeets, grain, lime, silage or compost, the Strong Box delivers unmatched durability and ease of use in even the toughest conditions. At the heart of the Strong Box is its heavy-duty, live bottom chain-drive system.
The positive chain drive ensures smooth, consistent unloading without slippage, even under full loads.
With minimal moving parts, it’s engineered for low maintenance and long servicelife. The obstruction-free interior, combined with aerodynamic sidewalls, allows for fast and efficient unloading while protecting your cargo.
Customization is key – choose from a range of lengths, axle configurations, and unloading options to fit your exact needs. The Strong Box is built with high- quality materials and precision craftsmanship, giving you peace of mind season after season.
Operators appreciate the ease of control, including options like autounload linkage, full-opening rear doors, and manual override capabilities for maximum flexibility at any site.
CROP SHUTTLE
The Crop Shuttle is the largest, fastest and most versatile crop cart on the market. It is fully customizable, providing you up to an 800-bag capacity and discharge speeds of up to 400 bags per minute. The Crop Shuttle is extremely versatile, allowing operators to use it in multiple crops such as sugarbeets, potatoes, carrots, onions, red beets, cucumbers and even corn silage.
Safe-T-Pull has designed the Crop Shuttle so there is no PTO needed to power the hydraulics. The Crop Shuttle’s patented design has minimal moving parts and changing angles meaning less buildup of debris while using less hydraulic power. The hopper rises into the air while unloading, creating the incline needed without a separate conveyor slowing down your discharge and damaging the crop.
The Crop Shuttle is fully customizable to meet your needs and features multiple cleaning bed options that allow operators to remove tare and leave more dirt in the field.
Safe-T-Pull Inc
(701) 284-6100 www.strongtruckbox.com
Put earnings back in your pocket with competitive borrowing rates and an annual cash dividend through our Patronage Program.
In 2024, AgWest paid the equivalent of 1.25% of eligible average daily loan balances back to our customer-owners.
AgWestFC.com
9016-HD HIGH DUMP CART
The 9016-HD High Dump Cart is built to keep your harvest moving — even when the fields say otherwise. With a massive 930 cubic-foot struck capacity (expandable to 1,355 with optional extensions), this heavy-duty cart handles up to 40,000 pounds of crop with ease.
What sets the 9016-HD apart is its rugged, field-ready design. The massive undercarriage, wide stance and flotation tires provide superior stability and traction in less-than-ideal conditions so you can keep rolling while others are stuck spinning. The exterior ribcage ensures no profits get stuck in the box, while the reversible hitch allows for left or right-hand dumping (a feature only available on the Art’s Way 9016-HD).
Proudly made in the USA and trusted by farmers for generations, these machines are designed to handle whatever the job throws at you.
Art’s Way Manufacturing
(712) 208-8467 www.artsway.com
COMMODITY EXPRESS & EXPRESS FLOOR AG
When you invest in the Western Commodity Express and Express Floor AG you are investing in more than 50 years of trailer experience from trailer design to products hauled. The Commodity Express and Express Floor AG is like all Westerns; it is a product of continuous improvement. Let Western show you how lightweight pays.
Western Trailers (208) 344-2539 www.westerntrailer.com
CROP CART
Spudnik Equipment is a leading manufacturer of potato and sugarbeet equipment based in Blackfoot, ID. The company has been in business since 1958 and has established a reputation for providing high-quality and reliable equipment to farmers around the world.
Spudnik’s Crop Cart is an innovative solution for harvesting and transloading potatoes and sugarbeets. With this versatile piece of equipment, there’s no need to stop your harvester from pulling up crops. Simply keep the Crop Cart tied to the harvester and quickly and easily transload your product into the
AMITY SUGARBEET CART
The sugarbeet cart from Amity Technology fits any operation and unlocks profit potential. This field-proven solution for efficient transport in all field conditions is a key to success in the fast pace of harvest. Tracks on the Amity Sugarbeet Cart are underneath the box, so working and transport width are just 11.5 feet. The narrow design means increased clearance between the harvester and cart. It has an optional on-board scale (either wired or wireless) and hydraulics to help drive the boom. The high-capacity tank and flexible unloading elevator keep harvesters moving in the field to bring in the crop. Plus, with the best dealer network, Amity Technology parts and service are available when you need them most. Field-proven solutions from Amity Technology are grower-focused and grower-driven.
bulk bed. This streamlines the process and helps you get your product out faster, increasing your productivity and efficiency.
Spudnik Equipment is committed to providing farmers with the tools they need to maximize their potato and sugarbeet yields while minimizing labor and costs. With a focus on innovation and quality, Spudnik has earned its reputation as a leading manufacturer of potato and sugarbeet equipment.
Spudnik Equipment Co.
(208) 785-0480
www.spudnik.com
Amity Technology
(701) 232-4199 www.amitytech.com
EAGLE BRIDGE
BIG BEAR SUGARBEET CART
The Big Bear sugarbeet cart is a quick way to transport beets from the harvester to the truck or clamp. All three models, 35-, 40- and 45-ton, ensure quick unloading by hydraulically driven conveyors to the center conveyor, keeping a balanced load at all times. Track undercarriage keeps compaction at a minimum and allows harvest of beets even in adverse conditions. A scrub roller provides cleaning action as beets pass from the center floor to the truck conveyor. Operators can select left- or right-hand unload with or without a hydraulic lift.
Ropa North America
(810) 705-0297
www.ropanorthamerica.com
PARMA COMBO BOX
The Parma multi-use combo box is a heavy-duty manure spreader that can be simply converted to forage or bulk box for year-round usage by removing the rear attachment and adding different side extension kits for silage, sugarbeets or other commodities. Three different spreader attachments are available: the horizontal beater, the compost and manure spinner unit or the vertical beater spinner. These boxes are available in truck-mounted pulltype trailer or pull-type semi-trailer configurations ranging from 16 to 30 feet.
Parma Company
(208) 722-5116
www.parmacompany.com
FULL-SIZE TRUCKS
Grover’s All Wheels has been serving the heavy-duty truck needs of its customers nationwide since 1978. Grover’s specializes in heavy-duty truck sales, service and parts, as well as in configuring trucks with Allison automatic transmissions. Grover’s carries a large selection of trucks, as well as the equipment required to get trucks ready to go to work. Rigorous inspection and reconditioning ensures customers the highest standard of quality. Grover’s custom-builds trucks on-site to meet the specific demands of growers’ work and has many trucks available for seasonal lease.
Grover’s All Wheels (800) 625-7077
www.groversallwheels.com
FROM THE ASGA
Luther Markwart | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
ASGA Monitoring Three Key Issues For Sugar
Working behind the scenes to protect industry
As we move into the summer months, we should have more clarity around three major issues that are critically important to sugarbeet growers.
First, key elements in the farm safety net across all commodities need to be included in the budget reconciliation package. The debate and decisions on what to include has been very contentious and it is always painful when significant cuts are made across the board in federal spending. It has been clear to policy makers that farmers
As we look ahead to the fall, our hope is that we can bring good news on the policy front, but there are many miles of bumpy roads to reach that destination.
need help, and they need it now. The farm safety net, crop insurance and nutrition titles have garnered a lot of attention as part of the reconciliation process. Portions of the Farm Bill that may not be included in reconciliation would have to be voted on through a separate vote, an unlikely outcome, given Democratic resistance. This means effectively splitting the Farm Bill to get it completed.
The second issue is the flurry of trade negotiations to rebalance our trading relationships and level the playing field with our trading partners. Rebalancing our tariffs is a country-by-country negotiation, each with its own set of economics and geopolitical dynamics. Speed is critically important to calm the fears of American business and to soften the volatility in the markets that abhor uncertainty.
July 9 is the target date to get agreements with countries in place if reciprocal tariffs are to be avoided. One would expect that some countries may get extensions depending on the status of the negotiations. Sugar is always in a defensive position, but U.S. negotiators
also understand the import sensitivity of our industry and the strategic importance of our commodity. The discussions between the countries are held very close and the results are only revealed once the countries are prepared to announce to the world what trade commitments have been achieved.
The third issue is government downsizing and reorganization. Thousands upon thousands have either voluntarily exited federal service or been forced out by a variety of other means by the administration. Many senior officials with institutional memory have moved on and the impacts of their loss of expertise will likely be felt well into the future.
It is uncertain how the contraction and realignment of the federal workforce will serve the needs of Americans. We have worked to soften the blow to our various research facilities across the country as their work is critically important to our future.
The EPA’s insecticide strategy for implementing their obligations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was
finalized in April (the herbicide version was finalized last August). We were pleased to see that many of the sugarbeet industry recommendations to the EPA to reduce spray drift buffer distances and better credit applicators for using drift-reducing techniques were adopted in the final version. We are working with each of the grower cooperatives and seed companies to understand the impacts on sugarbeet production.
It is with great sadness to hear the decision has been made to end beet sugar production in the Imperial Valley of California after the current crop has been harvested. The harsh reality of economics for both the growers and company owners has driven this result, as was the case with the closing of the Sidney, Montana, facility.
Imperial Valley growers must figure out what possible alternative cropping options are for 28,000 acres, factory employees are in a county with 17 percent unemployment, the community has lost a key industry and consumers in the southwest have lost an important local supplier and competitor.
In 1965, California reached 326,000 acres of beets processed by eight factories. Lower returns for sugar compared to alternative crops, state regulation dynamics for processing, and in some cases urban creep has put us where we are today. The outstanding work by our beloved grower representatives Curt and Suzanne Rutherford over these many years, in working on biotech and congressional hill visits was a blessing to the entire sugar industry and their work will be deeply missed in the years ahead. They have been treasured spokespersons for us and dear friends for many years. With the loss of the Brawley factory and the Texas sugarcane mill, we will have lost a production footprint in the two largest populated states in the nation with a combined 90 House congressional offices.
As we look ahead to the fall, our hope is that we can bring good news on the policy front, but there are many miles of bumpy roads to reach that destination.
By Rob Johansson, Director Of Economics & Policy Analysis
Following Changing Consumer Trends … And What That Means For Sugar FROM THE ASA
Short term vs. long-term trends
Americans are privileged to have access to the most diverse, affordable and safe food supply in the world. Most of us likely take for granted the fact that we generally do not have to worry about whether we can find a certain food, like fresh fruits and vegetables or basics like sugar and flour, on the grocery store shelf.
Maybe most people don’t think about their food at all.
However, the world has navigated supply chain challenges, inflation, generational shifts and perceptions on healthy diets, that seems to be changing.
Most people are surprised to learn we consume a lot fewer added sugars today than we did 25 years ago.
Let’s look at some of these trends:
• A 2021 consumer survey conducted by consulting group McKinsey found that COVID-19 supply chain challenges weakened consumer brand loyalty, making them more likely to try new things.
• A 2024 consumer report by marketing firm R.R. Donnelley & Sons found that 88 percent of respondents were frustrated by high grocery prices.
• A 2022 University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) survey found that Generation Z and Millennials are nearly twice as likely as Boomers to want to know where their food comes from.
• A February 2025 survey from Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability found that 30 percent of respondents believe ultraprocessed foods are unhealthy and should be avoided … but many of these same consumers also report buying “common ultraprocessed foods, such as breakfast cereal, chips, snack crackers and processed meats.”
Since sugar is an essential ingredient in so many of the foods we eat, it’s no surprise that sugar is a part of these new and evolving conversations about consumer trends. So, what does the outlook look like for sugar?
When looking at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
data on sugar deliveries, we see estimates of flattening demand in the short-term and a downturn in deliveries of sugar packaged for consumers.
Why is that? Some reasons could include: high prices and inflation, which have prompted households to buy fewer groceries; diet changes from recent developments in GLP-1 drugs; adjustments coming out of the supply chain bottlenecks in 2022; and increases in imports of sugar-containing products, which are not counted in the consumption data. All of those factors will continue to play out as we head into the next marketing year.
At the same time we are seeing a nearly 4 percent drop yearover-year in deliveries for retail grocery and a nearly 12 percent drop in wholesale grocery deliveries. The data also shows a more than 17 percent increase in deliveries for hotels, restaurants and other institutional users. That is a return to more normal preCOVID-19 purchasing patterns with lower grocery demand and higher restaurant demand.
In addition, grocery store prices have remained elevated for several years, which may be cutting into consumer demand at the store for a host of items, including sugar-containing products.
Another explanation for flattening sugar demand might be the rise in the use of GLP-1 medications which have been shown to limit consumer appetite and food purchases at the grocery store. Several recent studies have shown that at current levels of GLP-1 use, a three percent decline in caloric demand is not unexpected – and that decline in caloric consumption might be falling more heavily on sugar-sweetened products.
Of course, sugar in moderate amounts has long had a role in healthy diets and Americans have made huge strides in getting added sugars intake down very close to recommended levels. Most people are surprised to learn we consume a lot fewer added sugars today than we did 25 years ago. Per capita sugar consumption is relatively flat and when considering all added sugars, Americans’ intake is actually now at its lowest point in 40 years. Overall sweetener consumption per capita (which includes all added sugars) has been falling steadily since 1999.
Will these trends persist? No one knows for certain. Right now, USDA expects total domestic deliveries of sugar to continue to grow in their long-run outlook. For the sugar industry, we remain focused on sharing with Congress and consumers how real sugar made from sugarbeet and sugarcane plays an essential role in American diets and our national food supply.
Looking for more efficiency?
Amity Technology has your solution!
Amity’s 50 Series Defoliators are engineered to properly defoliate sugar beets while matching harvester speed. 50 Series defoliators are field-proven to deliver high-quality, properly defoliated sugar beets.
Amity harvesters are the gold standard in the industry. With features like Active Depth Control, High Profile Chain, Dynamic Chain Management, and an ultracleaning scrub tower, Amity harvesters can be configured to fit your operation.
Plus, with Amity’s field-proven lifter wheels, you will harvest all the tap root and leave extra tare behind.
The Amity Technology Sugar Beet Cart is a field-proven solution for efficient transport in all field conditions. During the fast pace of sugar beet harvest, efficiency is a key to success. The highcapacity tank and flexible unloading elevator of the Sugar Beet Cart keep harvesters moving in the field.
