The mission of the Idaho Sugarbeet Growers Association is to promote agriculture by sharing stories about the Idaho sugarbeet industry.
WHAT IS A SUGARBEET?
Sugarbeets are a root crop. A sugarbeet is a cousin to the red garden beet you see at the grocery store, though a sugarbeet is much larger and white in color.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
Sugarbeets in Idaho are a valuable commodity, bringing huge economic benefits to the state and providing thousands of jobs to Idahoans.
SUGARBEETS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
In 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture approved the commercial use of genetically engineered (GE) sugarbeets. Since then, our growers have used GE sugarbeets with a minor genetic change to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate. This allows farmers to use a limited amount of herbicide to eliminate weeds while not damaging the sugarbeet.
