By Scout Nelson
In the Red River Valley, the sugarbeet industry operates on an impressive scale, with harvest representing the largest mobilization of semitrucks in the United States. Each fall, producers work around the clock to harvest all sugarbeets in roughly 12 days. Minnesota and North Dakota together produce about 60% of the nation’s sugarbeets, making the region a vital hub for the crop.
The success of the industry comes from strong collaboration between three grower cooperatives, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, and American Crystal Sugar Company, along with research partners like North Dakota State University, the University of Minnesota, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and other stakeholders.
This teamwork is guided by the Sugarbeet Research and Education Board, which identifies growers’ needs and funds research projects. Growers share field challenges during summer meetings, leading researchers to propose solutions in the winter. Projects may address plant breeding, seed quality, disease and pest management, soil and drainage issues, and postharvest storage.
A major focus is Cercospora leaf spot, a fungal disease that damages sugarbeet leaves and reduces yield and quality. Researchers and growers work together to develop better management strategies while staying on top of other agronomic concerns.
To support this research, modern equipment is essential. In 2025, a new plot-sized sugarbeet harvester was developed, showing the value of investment and cooperation across universities, co-ops, and industry.
Over time, this unified approach has improved yields, strengthened disease resistance, and enhanced production practices. Industry experts credit the region’s resilience and progress to this partnership model, noting that without ongoing research and innovation, the area’s sugarbeet production would face greater challenges.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-luiscarlosjimenezi
Categories: North Dakota, Crops, Sugar Beets, Harvesting