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Minnesota ranks first nationally in sugarbeet production, raising 460,000 acres annually. North Dakota follows close behind, raising 260,000 acres annually, placing it 3rd nationally. Minnesota and North Dakota officially became the “nation's sugar bowl” in 1974. The annual economic benefits from the beet sugar industry in Minnesota-North Dakota include $1.1 billion in direct impacts plus another $2 billion in secondary impacts.
The Sugarbeet Production Program is a collaborative educational program established by the UM Extension Service and North Dakota State University in the late 1960s. The U of M and NDSU work in a collaborative partnership with three major sugar producers: Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, and American Crystal Sugar. This close collaboration allows this program to reach virtually all entities involved in sugar production in Minnesota and North Dakota. The purpose of this program is to improve profitability of sugarbeet production. This is accomplished through improving sucrose content in the beet, increasing yields per acre, and reducing input costs.
