Farmers interested in new production opportunities are invited to attend educational meetings on energy beets being held at five locations across central North Dakota the week of March 16.
“Low commodity prices are causing farmers to look for options that provide positive net returns, and energy beets may fit the bill,” says David Ripplinger, North Dakota State University Extension Service bioenergy specialist.
The meetings will provide farmers with economic information and tools to help them decide if they want to grow energy beets. Inputs, equipment, production costs and expected returns will be discussed.
Lenders and input suppliers also are invited to attend, given the key role they play in supporting farmers finance and grow the crop.
Commercialization efforts continue in North Dakota, as well as other parts of the country. Each of the five North Dakota communities where meetings will be held has been targeted by Green Vision Group as a potential site for energy beet production and processing.
Energy beets, also called industrial beets, are varieties of beets bred for industrial sugars that can be converted to a wide range of biofuels and chemicals.
Refreshments will be provided.
Meeting locations, dates and times are:
- Valley City – Tuesday, March 17, 9 to 11 a.m., Eagles Club
- Jamestown – Tuesday, March 17, 3 to 5 p.m., Stutsman County Extension Service office
- Langdon – Wednesday, March 18, 9 to 11 a.m., Langdon Research Extension Center
- Cando – Wednesday, March 18, 1 to 3 p.m., Towner County Extension Service office
- Carrington – Thursday, March 19, 9 to 11 a.m., Carrington Research Extension Center
The program is sponsored in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Education Program and NDSU.
Source:ndsu.edu