Agricultural Liming Material (ALM) ®

LOADING UPDATE: 9-8-2009

September 8, 2009
PCC (lime) will be available 24-7 until futher notice.
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Please note that starting September 1, 2009 the price of PCC (lime) will go up to $2.00 per ton.


Dear Valued Carrier:

This notice is to remind everyone involved with the loading and transport of material from our factory site in Renville, Minnesota that it is Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative ‘s intent to comply with all of the laws of the state of Minnesota including those pertaining to the legal load limits allowed for trucks and truck and trailer combinations. Our policy requires that any overloaded truck be sent back to unload (or transload) a sufficient portion of their lading so as to bring the overall gross vehicle weight to a level compliant with the law. Weight documentation (a weigh ticket) will not be issued until the vehicle’s load complies with legal requirements.

To save time, trouble and money I would strongly urge that your drivers take special care to be in compliance prior to coming to the scale for their outbound weight.

Respectfully,

Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative
Kelvin Thompsen
President & CEO

Our goal is to provide timely loading of lime with as much flexibility as possible for you the consumer. In order to control the costs for SMBSC, we ask that you please call Michele Thompson to register at 320-329-4130 and to give her dates that you are able to haul and we will do everything we can to schedule times and dates that workout for all of us. The information needed for registration is:

  • Name
  • Complete mailing address
  • Contact name
  • Email address
  • Fax number
  • Names of drivers who will be picking up product

Benefits of ALM® in a Sugar Beet Rotation

The benefits of applying ALM® or PCC (Precipitated Calcium Carbonate) to sugar beet have been a topic of discussion in the past . Especially fields with a history of Aphanomyces root rot. Research conducted at NDSU observed the influence of 3 ton and 10 ton of factory lime per acre on sugar beet production in fields with a known infestation of Aphanomyces. Each lime rate raised pH and improved sugar beet plant health. However, the research indicated that pH neutralization may be quicker, and the benefit to sugar beet health and ability to escape Aphanomyces may last longer from the 10 ton/acre versus the 3 ton/acre application rate. Specific data from this research can be found in a report in the 2001 Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports on pages 264-268 entitled Influence of Soil pH on Aphanomyces cochlioides in Sugarbeet.

The following information may help answer any questions you might have regarding involving PCC in your operation.

  • When will application of PCC benefit my operation?

    If your field has a history of Aphanomyces root rot, or if you have a field or areas of a field that has a pH below 6.5, or if you have a field that has a questionable history of herbicides that carry over in low pH, PCC may benefit your sugar beet operation.

  • What rate should I apply PCC?

    To this, there is no rule of thumb answer. Consider the cost of application, soil type, the specific reason behind applying the lime (such as considering the severity of Aphanomyces if applying for that reason), and how long before raising the crop for which the lime is being applied. The data suggests that 3 ton/acre may not be enough to handle tough Aphanomyces infestations.

  • When should PCC be applied in my rotation?

    Lime should be allowed to neutralize for one cropping season prior to the target crop for which it is being applied. However, if a field has an issue with low pH, Aphanomyces, or carryover chemical, an application in the fall or spring immediately preceding sugar beet will benefit the crop versus no lime application.

  • If I have already spread PCC on my field for a previous sugar beet rotation, when do I need to reapply?

    Again, the answer to this question is not immediately clear. However, the best guideline to determine if/when reapplication is needed may be to monitor soil pH. If soil pH begins to fall into a range of concern, then a reapplication may be necessary. However, if pH neutralization is not the only benefit coming from lime, then applications that are more frequent may be necessary.

  • Is SMBSC factory lime "clean"?

    Yes. The lime is used to purify beet juice. The juice has been exposed to temperatures in excess of 180 degrees and pH's above 12. Thus, any fungal or viral pathogens existing in the beet juice having the potential to infect the lime, is effectively denatured or destroyed.

Thank you for choosing SMBSC and feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Darvin Hauptli
SMBSC
320-329-4160