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. Krom 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 
