Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1094578
3130 London Line, Wyoming, Ontario, N0N 1T0 www.ropanorthamerica.com info@ropanorthamerica.com John Noorloos 519-339-6015 Michigan Mike 810-705-0297 Idaho Kent 208-280-0079 Nebraska Chad 308-279-2386 Minnesota Ace Ag 1-855-368-0154 SERVICE North America 3130 London Line, Wyoming, Ontario, N0N 1T0 call 519-339-6015 Quality used machines available: 2010 - 2015 Tiger V 8-4 and Tiger 5 20 - 22 - 24 - 28 - 30 inch heads Save time and maximize profi t 35 & 40 ton capacity BIG BEAR Award-winning 49126Ropa13s.indd 1 4/25/18 5:07 PM 170786HCLMac112.indd 1 11/30/17 8:42 AM everything they can to hold or bolster our current price." Over the years, Ryberg Farms has consistently been able to grow and thrive. It's easy to wonder exactly what combination of luck, solid business practices, and good agronomic decisions have made it work. As for himself, Ryberg doesn't believe you can disconnect one from the other on a successful farm. "When you want to make improvements," he says, "the mechanical, physical part of it is easy. It's the mental aspect that's sometimes tough to grasp and commit yourself to believing it's going to work. "I've been told we were the first farm to strip-till sugarbeets in Minnesota," he continues. "We kind of hang our hat on not being afraid to try something no one else has. And it's worked out well for us." n Today, Ryberg Farms comprises some 3,500 acres and does another 500 acres' worth of custom work. This year, they will grow about 800 acres of beets for Southern Minn factory in Renville. "We have really good soils where we live—dark black soil with high organic matter," says Ryberg. "We don't have any need for irrigation. In fact, we typically have more of a problem getting too much rain than not enough. About a third of our land is tiled to take off excess moisture, and we're trying to expand on that." Ryberg has served on Southern Minn's co-op board since 2015. That involvement, he believes, has had a direct impact on the success of his farm. "Being on the board has helped teach me how all business is run," he says. "I'm a better farm manager thanks to skills I've learned on the board. I'm better able to recognize the value of my employees and how to retain good people. I think I'm a better businessperson based on what I've been exposed to there." Minnesota was hit hard in 2018 with heavy rainfalls late into the growing season. Conditions were ideal for Cercospora leaf spot development, and a lot of beets were simply left in the ground because equipment couldn't get in and out of fields. While Ryberg says his beet crop wasn't hit as hard as many of his neighbors', no one in the co-op was unscathed. He's grateful at times like these to be involved with a sugar company that works so well with its growers. "The sugar company is definitely aware of the issues," he says. "We have great management at the factory. They're doing Give and Take Something to Be Proud Of www.SugarProducer.com 15