Fargo, ND (Press Release from NDSU) – A new, custom-built sugarbeet harvester is now in the hands of researchers at North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, thanks to a partnership involving several groups.

The new harvester’s development and purchase is a collaboration between NDSU, the University of Minnesota, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), the Sugar Beet Research and Education board, allied industry partners and growers.

“This is a partnership between the universities and other groups, including farmers and allied industry partners,” said Tom Peters, NDSU Extension sugarbeet agronomist. “All the groups pooled their resources together for this project.”

“This is a great success story of collaboration between the universities, private industry and growers,” said Ross Pape, Sugarbeet Research and Education Board president. “Everyone involved recognized the need to continue world class sugar-beet research right here in the valley, and providing researchers with a modern, sophisticated and reliable harvester is where it all starts.”

The new harvester was unveiled at the International Sugarbeet Institute on Wednesday morning at the Fargodome with representatives from the partners in the collaboration in attendance.

Peters Spoke to the crowd about the new harvester at the ISBI.