GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN UTAH AND IlDAHO. 13 



About one-third of the men who were consulted in this area stated 

 that a definite cropping system had not been adopted as yet, but 

 these operators were prepared to give suggestions with reference to 

 the length of time alfalfa is allowed to remain down. Continuous 

 beet culture appeared to be the practice on this group of farms. 



There is quite a marked similarity between the methods of crop- 

 ping that prevail in the Provo and the Garland district. On the 

 farms of the latter area the average period through which the 

 alfalfa sod remains unbroken is about five years. Planting grain for 

 one or two years after plowing up the hay crop provides the con- 

 necting link between the alfalfa and the sugar beet. The potato 

 enters into the general plan on relatively few farms. The sugar beet 

 is the chief money crop, and naturally occupies a conspicuous place 

 m the rotation. Fully one-half of the growers in this area reported 

 that sugar beets had been grown for five years or more on the same 

 part of the farm. This practice is no doubt due in part to the pre- 

 vailing opinion that beet land improves from year to year. Many 

 growers contend that they are getting better yields now in fields 

 which have produced eight crops or more- than they were able to 

 obtain during the first two or three years of their experience. There 

 is a tendency to overlook the changes which have been made in the 

 methods of culture. The increased yields, if there is such an increase, 

 are undoubtedly due to greater efficiency in producing the crop. It is 

 not unusual to find beets following beets upon the same field 8 to 12 

 years without the introduction of any other crop. Such a system 

 invites trouble and consequent shortage in yield through the develop- 

 ment of plant diseases or the multiplication of insect pests. A few 

 have recognized the serious possibilities of such a situation and are 

 endeavormg to modify this well-established practice. About 33 

 per cent of the Garland records show that a definite crop rotation 

 has not been fully established. Wlien apple and other orchards 

 are being developed, it is a common practice to grow sugar beets 

 on this land. 



There are portions of the Idaho Falls area where the potato is the 

 only cultivated crop and practically no attention is given to the 

 production of sugar beets. For these farms a slightly different 

 rotation has been evolved. The Idaho Falls rotation, which includes 

 alfalfa, potatoes, beets, and grain, is in conformity with the Utah 

 method of cropping. However, under average conditions alfalfa 

 is broken out at the end of the fourth year and potatoes take the 

 place of grain on the newly turned soil. A few operators put in grain 

 immediately after breaking. Potatoes are planted the succeeding 

 year. Beets follow beets for two or three years, after which grain 

 is sown and alfalfa is established once more. Occasionally potatoes 

 are planted for two or three years consecutively after breaking, and 



