Amalgamated Sugar Company 2016 Field Trials

The variety trial tour for The Amalgamated Sugar Company 2016 occurred the last week of August.  This annual event is pertinent for our sales team to attend so that we may see how varieties grow in various conditions across the Amalgamated Sugar production regions.

Amalgamated Sugar Company Field Trial Tour

The first stop on Amalgamated Sugar’s trial tour was American Falls trial.  At this particular location, all of the varieties were uniform with an even leaf canopy making it difficult to identify the differences between each variety.   Next, we visited three trials in the Mini-Cassia region.  Unlike the American Falls trial, the Burley trial displayed visible differences between varieties. There was some inconsistency throughout the replications, differences in the canopy development and some disease problems.

At the Suchan Farm which is a research farm owned by Amalgamated Sugar, the varieties were consistent through the replications and the differences between each variety were quite apparent.  The last trial to be visited in the Mini-Cassia region was Rupert where again the fields were uniform with little disease pressure.

The trial tour concluded in Almagated Sugar’s Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon growing region.  Starting at the Nampa, Idaho trial location, we previewed fields that were planted early and watered with drip tape.  Drip tape brings salt to the soil surface which can cause additional issues.  Also, the symptoms of leaf diseases were visible at this location.

The University of Idaho Parma Research Station conducted nematode variety research trials.  Considering the Nematode pressure at this site, the varieties appeared to show resistance to the nematode population. The final visit was Oregon State University’s trial that utilized flood irrigation practices. The field’s growth and vigor was good and seemed to be comparable to other locations.

Almagated Sugar’s annual trials are an invaluable event that enable us to visit with field staff, seed company representatives, and industry researchers so that our sales team is current with the trends and changes that are taking place within the U.S. sugar beet industry.