MICHIGAN – 2016 was a rough year for sugarbeet growers, with uncontrollable factors such as weather and disease causing the lowest sugar content since 1986.

Drought early in the season and extended warm weather in fall caused decreases in overall sugar content as sugarbeets continued to grow instead of store sugar. In addition, the late rain in August caused the perfect growing grounds for Cercospora, Alternaria and bacterial leafspot. This resulted in early defoliation of leaves and reduced tonnage.

As the 2017 growing season begins, Michigan State University Extension reminds growers that there is an increased risk of leafspot and that they should take preventive measures to prevent leafspot in their sugarbeets. Syngenta recommends a fungicide like Inspire® XT, which has high intrinsic activity to control leafspot and powdery mildew.

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