Agricultural experimental work

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTAL WORK

PART I

H.

W

. DAHLBERG

It is always difficult to accurately determine the money returns from r~-searoh work. It seems best to confine financial ealoulations to the production of oommeroial Great Western seed, as this is one of the most

tangible accomplishments resulting from our extensive seed breeding work. It may be of some interest to compare the costs of home grown seed produced in each of the two World Wars. In studying these costs it is well to remember that our hourly operating rate in 1945 was 268% of the same rate in 1917, so agricultural wages for seed production have probably increased in a similar proportion.

! 1

During the seven crop years, 1939•46 inclusive, we produced

29,316,000 pounds of seed at an average cost of about 12.6! per pound, includ-ing freight. Prior to the outbreak of the war we were producing seed at less than 9, per pound. It is of interest to oompare these figures with the four year period, 1918-21 inclusive, when we produced 8,263,168 pounds of seed at an average oost of 20.4.¢ per pound6 using the two year method of seed

growing.

We believe it is conservative to say that had we not had the re-quired quantities of pedigreed seed and the seed growing operations in the Southwest well organized ns early as 1935, the seed we produced from 1939 to

1945 inolusive would have cost us at least 4, per pound more than it did. In other words, the 29,316~000 pounds of seed grO'Wil during this period would have cost ua $1,172,640.00 more.

Additional evidence of the conservativeness of this statement is the fact that in the years 1919 and 1920 we paid 28¢ to 32¢ per pound for European seed, and that at the present time several European governments are willing to pay 18/ to 20! for Great Western seed delivered in Europe.

Far more important than the cost per pound was the oomplete security that both the Company and our growers enjoyed in the matter of never incurring the slightest risk of running out of seed. We were able to maintain our stocks of seed at such a level that we could not only sell large quantities to the Michigan and Canadian companies in 1939, at the outbreak of the war, but could also sell large quantities to Europe at the present time. Ou~ Company therefore played a real part in increasing sugar supplies in this country in the early part of the war and is now rendering service to several European oountries during the critical food shortage which will continue thro~~h 1946.

Our seed inventories and average cost of seed on hand at the begin• ning of each fiscal year since 1939 have been as follows:

Pounds Seed on Hand

Av~.

Cost ;eer Pound March

1,

1939 10,044,444 $.0799 March 1, 1940 11,272,839 .0962 March l, 1941 8,983.,982 .1016 March l, 1942 8.,832,957 .1049 March l, 1943 8,126,816

.1127

M.e.rch l, 1944 7,246,447 .1268 March 1, 1946 8,369,176 .1339 March l, 1946 9,728,681 .1431

The productivity of our Great Western seed is of course highly important. Maey variety tests have shown our seed to exoel European seed.by 400-500 pounds sugar per aore. Howevsr, since our average grower does not produce as high a tonnage as we get in variety tests we will assume that during the war years we have secured an increase of only 200 pounds sugar per acre over what European seed would have given us, a conservative figure. During the period 19$46 we have harvested a total of 1,384,262 acres, so two addi• tional bags per acre would give us 2,768,524 more bags of sugar for the seven orops. I shall not attempt to estimate what this represented in earnings to the Company.

In the above we have confined our estimate of earnings to a seven year period, 1939•1945. This does not mean at all that similar earnings will not continue in the future. At the present time we have oonsiderable

seed we can sell to Europe at a good profit if the present demand continues for one more year. We also have more outstanding varieties just coming into large scale production, such as G.W~ 64, G.W. 86, and G.W. 201, which should still further increase our sugar production per acre. In fact. we are anxious to secure post war aeed from Europe, and also seed grown by other sugar companies in this country, so that we can determine whether any seed produced anywhere in the world will compete with our own varieties.

Everyone recognizes the value of high sugar content in a variety, provided it is not aocompanied by a loss in tonnage, as so often happens. We are rather proud of our new variety

G.w.

201 which gave the following compara-tive results with Old fype in six variety tests in 1944 and at the same time produced more sugar per acre.

PEP. CENT SUG.All IN BEETS 1944

Longmont Brush Scottsbluff Eaton Ft. Collins Hershey, Neb.

G.W. 201 18.05 16.88 16.79 18.12 18.70 19.68

Old Type 17.80 15.58 16.03 16.43 18.40 19.33

Difference .25 1.30 .76 1.69 .30 .25

AGRICULTURAL EXPERI

M

ENTAL

W

ORK

PART II

H

. E.

BRE

W

BAKER

HISTORICAL

Agriculture.l experimental work with the Company began in 1909 with some selection work e.t the Edgar farm in Montana under the direction of Mr. Mendelson. Some work along this line was also started at the same time at Sterling by Mr. Bolte. In 1910 the work was extended to Longmont,

Windsor and Wellington, all of which was under the direction of Mr. Mendelson.

Mr.

Jarrell became associated with the work at Edgar, Montana, and Mr. Maxson with the work in Northern Colorado at this time.

In 1916 the breeding work was closed out at Edgar, Montana, all of it being centralized at Longmont. Greenhouse and office space was provided on the Longmont Station in 1916.

There being some doubt as to progress in breeding it was decided to discontinue for the year 1925 all breeding work. This was re•orge.nized in 1926 under H.

w

.

Dahlberg as Resae.roh Manager and continued uninterrupted to date.

Other phases of research and service to the Company have been inititated from time to time.

PRI

N

CI

P

AL CO

NT

RIB

U

TIONS

Breeding and varietal testing,

The commercial varieties resulting from our own breeding work have consistently produced more available sugar per acre than European sorts, LSR varieties produced by the U.S.D.A. or productions of commercial concerns. When domestic seed• production came into being on a large scale about 10 years ago adapted G.

w

.

varieties were available for increase. li'or this entire period only G.W. varieties have been grown commeroiely in the entire G.W. area except for a portion of the Montana .. Wyoming District where U

.

s

.

ourly-top•resistant varieties have been used to some extent. During the Second World War first quality seed of proven varieties was available for our growers

at practically no increase in price, in direot oontrast with the oondition existing during World War I when the prioe of seed was high and any seed available was used.

GW 59,64,87 and 201 are representative of the "yield" types whioh have proven to be high producers while more recently GW 85 appears almost equal with the above under non-leafspot conditions, possessing also high resistance to leafspot. Many other LSR productions are being tested as possible 1provements.

For curly-top areas US 22 has been determined to be the best of the

u.

S. lots resistant to ourly-top, e..nd a first-generation hybrid of this with our

G.W.

69

which appears to be an improvement over both parents has been made on a commercial basis.

Extensive generation testing of various varieties has shown the old theory that continuous selection was necessary to maintain production ability to be false. The results indicate that so long as no apparent natural

selection takes place during the course of seed production, such as incomplete bolting, that a stable commercial variety will be maintained without

demonstrable change in any important or observable character. Seed production

The over-wintering method as used in the Southwest has been shown to be adaptable to Northern Colorado conditions, as a result of which the com-mercial seed production in recent years at Windsor has been by the over""Winter•

ing method. Considerable saving in oost has resulted f'rom this change-over from the steckling method used previously.

Soil fertility; and fertilizers

The relationship between blaokheart disease and deficiency in phosphate was first demonstrated by

Mr.

Maxson. This foouesed attention toward a need for phosphate on many soils, reeul ting in increased use of' this fertilizer•

Fertilizer studies have been conducted at various times, particularly on fe.rms throughout the G. W. area.. demonstrating the nee.d for manures and fertilizers to growers.

Germination work

Until recently all seed genninations which were made on a servioe

basis by the Experiment Station have been an essential part of the seed program for the Company.

Entomological

Sugar beet nematode surveys which were oonduoted extensively for

many years were directed from the Experiment Station. These surveys served

to some extent as a check against use of dsngerinlsly infested land for sugar beets, and

they

also helped in developing a recognition of the importance of nematodes. As a result of these studies a long-time rotation was shown to

eliminate any material damage from nematodes. Continued surveys are of

doubtful value.

Practical control methods for webworms by spraying has resulted from studies by the Experiment Station

The sugar beet root-louse was shown to be dependent upon the narrow~ leaf cottonwood for feed at one stage in the life cyole. Some measure of control was accomplished by a campaign to eliminate thia t:i·ee.

The publication of 11_{Prinoipal Insect Enemies of the Sugar Beet" by} A.

c.

Maxson and his personal service in developing control methods has been

of great service to the entire sugar beet industry.

Seed treatment studies

The importance of some form of seed treatment to facilitate field germination has been demonstrated for certain farms every year of the test. All commercial seed is now treated, with a net result of generally more satisfactory stands and a high degree of freedom from black-root. The most

effective treatments have been limited to a few in number by these studies.

Random sampling method for a pre-harvest estimate of yield and sugar

A pre-harvest method of estimating the probable total sugar produc -tion as designed by the Experiment Station in 1941 has proven to be much more accurate than previous methods used. The net contribution in this case is difficult to evaluate.

Education of growers

The Experiment Station staff, have, through talks, demonstrations

end published material, contributed down through the years to the enlightenment of the growers with respeot to methods and practices oondueive to high

production of the sugar beet crop,and to some extent also. other orops than sugar beets.

PRO.P08ED LINES OF' iD Rl: ON A LOUG-H.AfJGI!: BAS IS l. s~~ar beet improvement

2. General agronomic investigations

3. Agricultural mechanization and mechanical development 4. Soils and fertilizer research

5. Physiological studies 6. Pathological problems

7. Entomological investigations

8. Training field.men

9. Statistical advisory service lOo Miscellaneous

Some what in detail it is proposed to conduct research work along

the above lines about as follows,

1. Sugar beet improvement

This phase or the Station research program will continue to be the

most extensive of all projects for some time to come. Improvement methods

are due for a material change, although not too abruptly. More intensive

methods should make possible a f'urther material increase in varietal production,

probably a~ much as 10 - 16% increase in tonnage and some concurrent

improve-ment in sugar. It is proposed to add purity to the other characters subject

to selection for which some improvement might be exDeoted independent of any sugar imp~o,ement (Powers has recently shown that purity is to some extent

independent of sugar). These are long-time objectives, and while

consider-able improvement might be entioipated within a 10-year period, this

will

be contingent upon what other oharacters seem. necessary to inolude as essential for concurrent improvement.

Strong resistance to leafspot hns been developed in a wide series of lots which are in various stages of testing. The generally rather good performance of

GW 86

and certain other

LSR

varieties, when considered~

connection with a careful study of yield vs. resistance to leafspot indicates no genetic relationship between these oharacters. It is proposed., therefore, to confine future intensive breeding work for all except the norther areas

(subject to curly-top) largely to

LSR

material, or at least to develop

resistance to leafspot along with other characters in all breeding projects.

For the northern areas there are severel breeding phe.ses, including the development of more productive

CTR

varieties, also combine.tion of

CTR

and LSR whioh needs further attention by broad methods before applying the more

intensive methods design~d to make material ir..crea.ses in yield. There seems to be little doubt that these objectives will be accomplished tut the project

again must be considered as e long-time ome for whioh the contributions should eventually be very ma.terie.l .

The recent encouragements in finding 5 plants which beer mostly

single-germ seedballs, also double-germ pla.nta, seem. to pred.:ct an early

development of pure strains for both oi' these characters. Genetic puri.ty, however will permit of some doubles on "single-germ" plants with perhaps

70-6<>% singles, also some singles and triples on 11_{double-genn" plants a.long}

with perhaps 90-96% doubles. This whole picture is necessarily h:ijlly

hypothetical sinoe the first "single11 _{plant was found at Billings in 1944}

and the hypothesis is based largely on the F2 generation in the Longmont

greenhouse this 'Winter.

Success in the development of these single- and. double-germ seed types as genetic entities would radically alter the entire breeding program,

making it necessary to incorporate either the single- or double-germ character into all new varietal combinations. It would mean e.n extensive program

calculated to save uvNards of 1,250,000 pounds of seed each year now lost by

our Company in the segmenting process. In addition to 'this, :-.et yenrly

saving of $100,000 to t200,ooo (inclucing processing costs to our growers)

it would ~ake possible an increase of et lenst 15% in ger~inntion, which

might be of even greater net value in assuring more uniform stands.

It is proposed to study the problem of eeed production Rnd t o

dEJtermine the seed-producing potentialities, pe.rticulnrly in the Southwest, of any strains which appear to be probable for commercial use. Poor seed producers nte.y either be discarded or subjected to improvement work for thil!I

character.

Characters other than the above mentioned will be included i'or

improvement as they appear to be of' importe.n.ca. Such msy include agronomic

types or resistance to other disease ,iu.'I, for example, those causing root rots.

2. General e.gronomio investigations

For the present these investigations will probably be limited to problems of immediate importance as related to the mechanization program suoh as comparisons of planters, blocking e.nd thinning studies, stands es related to size and grading of seed, width of row and spacing, pelleted seed, etc. If more land were available demonstration plots might profitably be set up in this connection.

Crop sequence studies may well be set up in the future as of

experimental-demonstrational value. Maintenance of the organic matter content of the soilswill· require more than mere encr:n1re.gement of feeding; the inclusion of green lll.8nures ·1n the rotation are important. Just where and how they

may

best be included in the rotation in order to assist in maintaining yields without loss in quality of the bee~s needs further study and demonstration to beet growers.

3. A~ricultural meohanizeticm and meohanical'developmant

The Great Western has o~rried on extensive work through the years in designing and constructing various pBOes of experimental equipment, includ-ing work on planters and harvesters, washing machines, seed segmenting

maohinery, automatic pipettes, polariscope printing devices, ete. Various people have been pressed into service in this development work.

An experimental shop adeqqately equipped with machinery, tools, and instruments, and with an experimental engineer in charge, ~lso perhaps~an

additional individual with dngenious inventive, ability, would be able to taokle the varied and numerous problems whioh are coming up, particularly in connection with the present agricultural mechanization program. This shop should be

located at the Experiment Station where a close relationship with the general experimental program could be maintnined.

4. Soils and fertilizer research

This phase of Company research should be conducted from the

Experiment Station, with greenhouse and land facilities, and easy aooess to the farming area. The direot effect of fertilization at various points in the rotation upon the yield and quality of the beet crop is highly important and more specific information is needed.

The general level of fertility is skidding downward on most farms, a condition which will influence the produotive level for all o rops, including sugar beets. The problem would suggest close cooperation withihe State Experiment Station for its solution.

Except for certain phases which

may

be conducted to advantage in an experiment station, most of the fertilizer work me.y be directed from the Central Station but conducted on the farms through the fieldmen.

6. Physiological studies

Of immediate concern is the effect of various mechanical methods of

topping and handling roots at harvest upon loss in storage. This becomes essentially a study of respiratory losses coupled with losses from root rots.

In spite of the fact that the sugar industry depends upon the

chemical product of a physiological process (sucrose) for its existence. which in turn is closely associated with various salts in a purity factor. it is a curious fact that there is not a well-trained physiologist working on the sugar beet in this country.

A prominent physiologist considering the possibilities of work with the sugar beet crop recently listed 16 separate problems which seemed to him to have possibilities of contribution to the industry.

Currently it is proposed that only such problems as can be con-ducted by the present staff and proposed one or two additional members will be initiated. Eventually, a well-trained plant physiologist might profitably be employed to tackle some of these problems. .An additional $7.000 to $8,000 will be needed to support suoh a project if and when i t be initiated.

6. Pathological problems

It is anticipated that seed treatment studies will be continued to determine the ~est single treatment or combination of treatments, or if there is an interaction between treatment and soil condition or district which may be useful in the commercial treatment of seed. New materials are being developed whioh need to be tested. For these reasons this study may need to be continued indefinitely unless it be determined that a perfectly satisfactory treatment is _discovered, suoh as has not been obtained as yet.

Comparatively little has been accomplished to date on the problem of root rots other than seedling diseases and "blaokheart." There are some indications that effeotive control may be associated with either cultural practice., rotation or soil fertility. ResistaEoe may be inherited. More work along these lines is anticipated.

Identification of diseases in the field and "trouble shooting" will always bee function of the Experiment station. either direotl.y or throy;h

managers and fieldmen who

may

be kept L"U'ormed by the Station Pathologist.

7. Entomological investigations

The anticipated servioe in this conneotionwill probably consist largely in insect identification and in testing new materials e.nd methods of control for such insects as may appear to be causing damage to the sugar beet orop. The Station Pathologist will be held largely responsible for this phase of the Sation work. Field.men should be 1m.ined to do much of this.

a.

Training field.men

The Experiment Station, with its varied lines of research and with library facilities. provides favorable facilities for a year's apprentice

training of new fieldmen. Many of the problems whioh they will faoe later, suoh as identifioation of inseots and diseases, may well be studied during this apprenticeship.

The

general attitude of the Agricultural Department toward research problems would be materially improved by this method.

It is proposed to carry on certain types of pr ojeots, such as

fertilizer tests, strip variety tests or mechanization studies through certain

f'ieldmen who show interest and desire t o oooperete in such types of work. De'Velopment of such oooperative studies will require considerable attention of' the Station Direotor.

It this conneotion it is proposed to provide an abstracting and

general information serive whereby research, or other publications, may be

abstracted and such abstracts mimeographed at occasional intervals for the

Agrioultural Department.

9. Statistical Advisory Service

It is poposed that the services of the Station Statistician be made

av!tile.ble on e.n advisory basis :l.n connection with experiment work set up in

any department of the Company. 10. Miscellaneous

Encouragement will be given to the :Ee rsonnel of theStation to keep

abreast of their ovm fields by attendance at science meet.i.ngs, advanced work in some oas~s, membership€ in their own teohnioa.1 societies and publications

PERSONNEL AND OTHER NEEDS FDR THIS PROPOSED EXPANSIOO OF

RESEARCH

Personnel

The demand for men trained in research is very great and will probably be considerably increased after July 1, 1946, when the new u.s.D.A. budget takes effect.

The proposed National Science Foundation will take a large number of trained scientists. Industry increased its research personnel from 7,400 in 1920 to 33,000 in 1931 to 70,000 in 1940. Approximately 4,000 to 6,000

maa with

Ph.D.

degrees in biologioal science alone are being sought for positions at the present time.

One man, preferably with a

Ph.D.

degree in Plant Genetics, 'With minor in Plant Physiology and Agronomy, is needed at once (Salary $4,000 to $4~500) to carry on the detailed breedin gwork supplemented by some

phyaiolosicel and sbronomic Froblems.

We

couid alsou;e to ndvantage a well• tra.i!led assistant to take charge of the gerrnlnat.:.0n work and assist in the more intensive phases of the breedinE program (Salary $2100-$2260).

If an experimental shop is located at this Station, an experimental engineer will need to be employed (Salary about $3000-$4000).

It is proposed to place all field work under the supervision of a Farm Superintendent, this to take effect a year or so frcmnow. This change will probably not affect the total budget materially, if any, nnd is only designed to improve operating efficiency.

Land and water considerations

If present farm lay-out is retained it is proposed to, (1) pur•

chase the John Befus tract of 40 acres lying largely within the preser,t Station, cost $12,600; (2) Construct concrete box and level 6 .02 al.}res of land N of

roundhouse - estimated cost $500; (3) Do levelling worK on s. end of present

Station and on boundaries between present farm and Befus tract. About 10

acres of good experLmental land will be &reatly improved and 10 to 15 acres of rolling land converted imto fairly g~od farm land - estimated cost $1500 to $2000) (4) Make building mprovemts which will include increase in seed house; additional greenhous3 unit; replaoinb galvanized shed w~th garage, shop, seed

cleaning and drying facilities; removal of barn and construction of machine

shedJ and rebuilding of present office and 11.',boratory structure - total estimated cost $67,654 (detailed plans by Engineering ~epartment).

The second alt~rnative is to purchase another ~nd larger fannmore e.dequate for mtieipated needs of the Experiment Station as previously outlined for the future. Such a farm is available which would provide approximately 200 acres of excellent experimental land. Blue-print of farm shows 165.08 acres mostly very good to excellent irrigated exper:Lnental land west of Oligarchy, 35,40 acres irrigated east of Oligarchy and west of winding high-way of which 27.10 acres are a little sloping but probably satisfactory for m~st

types of experimental work. East of the wi;::i.ding roa.d there is 70.04 acres

irrigated and 46.80 acres dry but capable of irrigation by pumping either 10.

from the Rough and Ready with probably not over 10-15 ft. lift or from the

Oligarchy with a probable 40 ft. lift.

The land east of the winding roud, consisting of' a total of

116.84 aores of which 46.80 acres are dry, might be sold for U5,000 although

this location has a high potential value for home sites. Present farm

might be sold for $25,000 leaving a net increase of $40,000 necessary. If

this alternative be chosen, the present farm will need to be retained at least

for the current year and perhaps for two yea,.s·, giving time for such land

adjustments as necessary to to provide cropland satisfactory for full-scale experimental work.

H. E. B.