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be managed by crew bosses that would contract with a grower and assume the responsibility of managing the crew. Crews became larger and the fieldman’s involve- ment became less. Electronic thinning machines were being tried out and used. They were hard to set properly and thin- ning had to be timely. They were easier to bargain with than a crew so they were around for several years. Planters were be- ing converted from six rows to twelve. Dig- gers were moving from two- and three-row to six-row lifter loaders. Speed of planting and harvesting was becoming important. More 10-wheeled trucks were showing up. Load weights were increasing. The time needed to harvest the crop was decreasing. Receiving station capacities became an issue. Pre-emergence herbicides were being used less and less. Treflan and Eptam use was also on the decline. Post-emergence contact herbicides were being relied on more and more. Timing was critical but not always met. Labor Issues With the cost of seed and the issues with labor, growers began lengthening their seed drop from three inches to five and six inches. Planting to stand, eventually, be- came a common practice. We were begin- ning to see that a thicker stand returned better yields and sugars. One hundred fifty beets per one hundred-foot of row looked to be the ideal. Air planters were com- ing into our growing area. Plate planters are still used but air planters dominate. Twelve-row planters and six-row diggers were the norm. The average acre per grower continually increased. The smaller grower could not economically compete and went to another cropping system. Our grower base declined. Rhizomania was found and began to spread throughout the area. Seed varieties were bred for resistance. Economic Memories The economy of the industry was like a roller coaster. Without the Sugar Act we had to rely on a good solid Farm Bill. Everyone was still trying to learn how to manage the supply and demand of domestic sugar. Prices were in continual flux. We lost growers and acreage because 18 Sugar Producer June/July 2010 of low prices; prices improved and demand for acreage followed. In the early ‘80s our company started allotting acreage because of demand and production capacity. We allowed the growers to grow an early beet that would be harvested and processed in September. Equipment Beet equipment continued to improve. Most growers were planting twelve rows and harvesting six. We were beginning to move from six-row lifter loaders back to a tank type lifter. Tractor-trailer trucks were get beyond the ability to process it. This improved the quality of the beet being pro- cessed. We also ventilated and covered a certain tonnage amount to help in storing the latter processed beets. Roundup Ready sugarbeet seed was ap- proved and sold. Life became much easier. Cultivation was no longer a must. Growers were beginning to enjoy growing the crop. Strip-tillage was looked at and used. Some growers were able to till and plant their sugarbeet crop in one pass through the field. Loses due to wind were now manage- able. Growing sugarbeets took on a whole Economics have driven the changes. By removing the Sugar Act, the industry has had to adapt and change to remain viable. Change has been good. We are a more efficient industry today than we were 35 years ago. hauling beets from the fields. The industry was moving heavily towards becoming an industry of co-ops. The Amalgamated Sugar Company was purchased by The Snake River Sugar Company which was a co-op owned by the growers. Acreage within our company shifted. Old issues go away new issues immerge. The bottom line was still a challenge. Seed Seed through the years had also been improving. Competition for seed sales was strong. The growers’ seed committee held standards high. Yields improved. Market price declined but the improvement in yields helped hold the acreage. We began to manage our piles in the fall by stripping the sides. The idea was to never let a beet new mindset. Industry and government officials were beginning to work on better farm bill legislation, prices were improv- ing. Crystal Clear My recall may not be crystal clear and some of the events I have written about may not be in the exact order they hap- pened, but they did happen. Economics have driven the changes. By removing the Sugar Act the industry has had to adapt and change to remain viable. Change has been good. We are a more efficient industry today than we were 35 years ago. Editor’s note: Searle can be contacted through e-mail at dsearle@amalsugar.com.