By Dori Modney with files from ASBG

It’s 100% Canadian grown and refined – Sugar Beet seeding about to get underway

Apr 5, 2017 | 3:04 PM

TABER –  For some people, it’s seeing robins in their yards that signals the arrival of spring.  For others, it’s seeing the first farm equipment heading into the fields to begin seeding.

In Southern Alberta, more than 200 contract holders are about to head into the fields to plant 26,000 acres of sugar beets. Those acres will produce thousands of tonnes of sugar. 

Last fall 130,000 tonnes of sugar were produced from the 821,000 tonnes of harvested beets.

Many Southern Alberta farmers rely on the rotational value of sugar beets, as they plan   cereal crops, pulses such as peas and beans, or potatoes.

The contracts for sugar beets, in many cases, are held by third and fourth generation farmers who rely on science to grow the sweet product. It begins with farmers partnering with agronomists and testing labs to determine soil nutrient levels and moisture content, which help determine the success of the crop.

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The Alberta Sugar Beet Growers (ASBG),  wants to highlight this locally grown product.  For those who are unaware, the beets are processed by Roger’s Sugar in Taber, making it the only Canadian grown and refined sugar on the market.

ASBG Executive Director, Melody Garner-Skiba, is working to make sure the community is educated about where their food, or more specifically, Alberta sugar comes from.

“It is important for people to understand that the equipment they see in the field is a tool to help in growing their food and that their food comes from farmers and ranchers. The grocery centers are the retailers of the product, but not the producers. For example, the sugar they are using to create the muffins for their child’s snack day was grown by the sugar beets these farmers are getting ready to plant.”