GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO. 41 



The farmers received from $5.45 to $6.13 a ton for the crop. The 

 margin of profit is very small in a number of cases, a condition which 

 does not make for a greater beet acreage, a higher tonnage, or an in- 

 crease in the sugar supply of the country. However, the farmer 

 expends considerable labor on the beet crop and has been given an 

 allowance for his own' work. Then, too, several benefits are derived 

 from growing the crop on the land. Since deep tillage and thorough 

 land preparation are prerequisite, the soil is in excellent tilth for the 

 following crop. This condition is shown in the high yields of grain 

 after beets. Clean cultivation also eliminates noxious weeds and 

 insures to the following crop comparative freedom from these pests. 



The curve also points out the importance of a good yield of sugar 

 beets as a means of decreasing the cost per ton. From a cost of $3 

 a ton there is a gradual decrease in the yield until the cost becomes 

 $8 a ton. From this point a decrease does not always appear. How- 

 ever, only 4 per cent of the growers exceeded this figure. 



It is possible in a number of instances to increase the yield by em- 

 ploying better tillage methods, by the proper use of manures, and 

 by the use of a well-planned cropping system. 



Recently the sugar companies have advanced the price paid to the 

 farmer to help take care of increased costs. However, the general 

 relation between the new price and the new cost of production re- 

 mains practically the same. There are suggestions brought out in 

 this study that might be used by the sugar company as well as by the 

 beet grower. Increasing the efficiency of the labor necessary to raise 

 the crop, and the performance of certain operations when these 

 become necessary, will go far toward decreasing the cost of labor, 

 which constitutes such a large part of the total expense; and also in 

 increasing the yield of sugar beets. Both results would tend to lower 

 the cost per ton of production. 



VALUE OF BEET TOPS. 



The value of beet tops depends on the manner in which this by- 

 product is utilized. There are three ways of disposing of the tops, 

 namely, feeding on the farm, selling, and plowing under for manure. 

 The value given the tops on farms where they were fed was the prob- 

 able sale price of other feeds replaced by the tops. On farms from 

 which the tops were sold the actual price received was used. The 

 estimated manurial value was used where the tops were plowed 

 under. 



The general practice was to feed the beet tops, over 96 per cent 

 of the growers in the first three sections doing this. (See Table 

 XXVI.) In northwestern Ohio about one-half of the growers fed 

 and one-half plowed the tops under. Beet tops were valued at from 



