01/27/05 Beet growers look to weed free variety

Rupert area grower and Amalgamated Sugar Company director Duane Grant is hopeful that he be able to soon plant sugarbeets that resist Roundup weed killer. GRANT "What makes a good farmer versus a farmer that struggles in sugar beets is the good farmer can get control of his weeds. With this technology more farmers will be able to control weeds in their fields." The genetically modified beets could save producers a lot of money. Grant could see savings of 80 dollars per acre in his production costs. GRANT "If you have an effective way to control weeds without tillage it just simply reduces the number of passes that a farmer is required to make through his field. That results in less wind erosion, less water erosion, conservation of diesel fuel. There's a host of saving and environmental benefits that accrue to producers that adopt this technology." The hope is that the sugar beets would be ready for the 2007 season. The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have already approved the modified beets but USDA hasn't. Its decision is expected by the end of this year but Amalgamated growers will also wait until Canada and Japan give regulatory approval. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott