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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 19'20, Michigan produced 129,400 acres of sugar beets which gave 

 an average yield of 8.6 tons per acre and a total production of 1,106,000 

 tons. The average price per ton December 1st was $10.00, giving a total 

 value of 111,060,000— an average of |S5.47 per acre. 



Sugar beet production and beet sugar manufacture are stable Michigan industries. 

 Michigan ranlcs third as a sugar producing state. 



THE SOIL FOR BEETS 



Beets do best on fertile well drained loam, silt loam, and clay loam 

 soils. Light loams and sandy loams will produce beets of high sugar 

 content, but will not usually yield a suflScieut tonnage per acre to justify 

 expansion of production on these soils, except in cases where such soils 

 are in an unusually high condition of fertility. 



Certain muck soils tend to produce beets of a comparatively low 

 sugar content, though yields may be good. If properly fertilized with 

 potash and phosphoric acid, such soils may produce sugar beets- of ac- 

 ceptable quality. It is the opinion of the Farm Crops department that 



