Vervain or Verbena

Verbena is a slender perennial herb, 30-90cm tall, with a woody stalk and several stiffly erect stems. The lower leaves are obovate, deeply divided and stalked, the upper ones lanceolate, slender, sessile and toothed. Tiny blue flowers appear in long slender spikes in the axis of a bract, becoming denser higher up each spike. The fruit comprises four cylindrical nutlets enclosed in the calyx. Verbena is indigenous to England, central and southern Europe, North Africa and Asia, and has been introduced into North America. It grows in waysides and waste places.

Lupinus Plant

Lupinus, commonly known as Lupins or lupines (North America), is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae). The genus comprises about 280 species (Hughes), with major centers of diversity in South and western North America (Subgen. Platycarpos (Wats.) Kurl.), and the Andes and secondary centers in the Mediterranean region and Africa (Subgen. Lupinus).

My Trip To Dubai

迪拜是一个奇妙的的国家。它已使许多怪异的形状和大小的建筑物。那里的人民从马来西亚人有点不同。但他们都非常有礼貌，大方。我哥哥说，我们是不允许离开成人的任何地方的儿童。我真的很尊重那里的人民。 我是在月球上时，我和我的家人到机场的道路上。我们将在迪拜度过假期。当我们到达机场时，我们说再见我的弟弟和妹妹。我们检查，并等待约半小时。一旦我们登上了飞机，我们把我们的座位和穿着我们的安全带。 我们八个小时抵达阿布扎比，阿联酋的阿布扎比​​国际机场，在飞机上。我们签出，并等待司机到达，给我们带来我哥哥的家在迪拜码头。我们的道路上，约1小时，直到我们达到我们的目的地。我完全高兴地看到我的兄弟，我的嫂嫂和我的侄子。我们解压我们的东西，睡觉去了。 在第一个星期，我的兄弟把我们带到了许多地方，如亚特兰蒂斯水族馆，阿拉伯帆船，逃离市场和迪拜购物中心，世界上最大的商场。第二个星期，我，我的父母，我的兄弟和我的姐妹们逛到迪拜码头附近。我们采取了单轨去迪拜码头购物中心。在第三个星期，我们去阿曼采取了各地的海上乘船。在海中，我看到这么多的山。山的斜坡上，有几个村屋。我也看到了一些与欢乐歌唱不是那么非常漂亮的旋律跳跃的海豚。我什至在大海中游泳。这些经验是令人咋舌！ 在第四个星期，我的哥哥参加了晚餐，我们在一个餐厅在这个星球上最高的建筑迪拜塔，。餐厅优雅和豪华。各种食品供应美味！我们观看了水喷泉表演。有音乐，一些人跳舞，优雅和风度。这是一个不平凡的经历。在我们此行的的最后一天，我们去Jumeirah海滩。它是仅一箭之遥离我弟弟的房子。我几乎每天散步有。当它是回家的时候到马来西亚，我们在客厅收拾我们的东西，花了最后一个小时。我们半夜到机场，并在中午到达马来西亚。我哥哥接我们在机场，我们回家。我会永远记得我在迪拜的美妙的体验。

The Vampire Diaries The Return: Shadow Souls

"A second chance? I've spoken to her about it." "She won't remember anything." "It doesn't matter whether she remembers. Everything will remain inside her, if unawakened." "It will germinate inside her... until the time is right." Elena had no idea of what any of it meant. And then this mist was thinning, and clouds were making way for her, and she was drifting down, more and more slowly, until she was deposited gently on a ground covered with pine needles. The voices were gone. She was lying on a forest floor, but she wasn't naked. She was wearing her prettiest nightgown, the one with real Valencienne's lace. She was listening to the tiny night sounds all around her when suddenly her aura reacted in a way that it never had before. It told her someone was coming. Someone who brought a sense of safety in warm earthen hues, in soft rose colours and deep, blue violets that enfolded her even before the person arrived. These were... someone's... feelings about herself. And behind the love and soothing concern she experienced, there were deep forest greens, shafts of warm gold, and a mysterious tinge of translucency, like a waterfall that sparkled as it fell and foamed like diamonds around her. Elena, a voice whispered. Elena. This was so familiar... Elena. Elena. She knew this... Elena, my angel. It meant love.

Sifat Allah

Pada cuti penggal kedua yang lalu, murid-murid tahun lima Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Bestari mengadakan lawatan sambil belajar ke Petrosains, Kuala Lumpur. Semasa perjalanan pulang Ustaz Dahlan bertanya, "Apakah perkara yang menarik semasa lawtan tadi?" Fikri menjawab "Saya amat tertarik dengan simulasi helikopter dan proses cari gali di planter minyak. Pada masa itu, saya berasa seolah-olah berada di dalam helikopter dan melawat planter minyak yang sebenar."

Mempertahankan Madinah

Kedudukan Madinah yang terletak di antara Sham dengan Mekah dijadikan sebagai tempat persinggahan para pedagang. Kedudukan yang strategik ini menjadi faktor utama penyebaran Islam. Perkembangan ini membimbangkan kaum musyrikin Mekah. Mereka merancang untuk menyerang Madinah dan meruntuhkan kerajaan yang dibentuk oleh Rasulullah S.A.W. Demi mempertahankan negara Madinah serta kemuliaan Islam dan umatnya, Allah memperintahkan supaya umat Islam bersedia mempertahankan negara mereka walaupun dengan cara berperang. Firman Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala: "Diizinkan berperang bagi orang (Islam) yang diperangi (oleh golongan penceroboh) kerana sesungguhnya mereka telah dianiyai dan sesungguhnya Allah amat berkuasa untuk menolong mereka (mencapai kemenangan).

Night World: Huntress

The fire-hardened end was very pointy. He wouldn't try to use that first, though. first, he would go for disarming her. The simplest way to do this was to break points and nerve centers. He didn't play around at this. A minute change in Morgead's posture alerted her, and they were both moving. He swung his stick up and down in a perfect arc, aiming for her right wrist. Jez blocked easily with her own stick and felt the shock as wood clashed with wood. She instantly changed her grip and tried for a trap, but he whipped his stick out of the way and was facing her again as if he'd never moved in the first place. He smiled at her. He's right. He's gotten better. A small chill went through Jez, and for the first time she worried about her ability to beat him. Because I have to do it without killing him, she thought. She wasn't at all sure he had the same concern about not killing her. "You're so predictable, Morgead," she told him. "I could fight you in my sleep." She feinted toward his wrist and then tried to sweep his legs out from underneath him. He blocked and tried for a trap. "Oh, yeah? And you hit like a four-year-old. You couldn't take me down if I stood here and let you." They circled each other warily. The snakewood stick was warm in Jez's hands. It was funny, some distant partof her mind thought irrelevantly, how the most humble and lowly of human weapons was the most dangerous to vampires. But it was also the most versatile weapon in the world. With a stick, unlike a knife or gun or sword, you could fine-tune the degree of pain and injury you caused. You could disarm and control attackers, and - if the circumstances required it - you could inflict pain without permanently injuring them. Of course if they were vampires, you could also kill them, which you couldn't do with a knife or a gun. Only wood could stop the vampire heart permanently, which was why the fighting stick was the weapon of choice for vampires who wanted to hurt each other... and for vampire hunters. Jez grinned at Morgead, knowing it was not a particularly nice smile. Her feet whispered across the worn oak boards of the floor. She and Morgead had practiced here countless times, measuring themselves against each other, training themselves to be the best. And it had worked. They were both masters of this most deadly weapon. "Idiot!' Jez didn't have time to say that Claire couldn't help her: could only hurt her. The vampire had recovered and was moving toward her in fighting position. He was big, probably over two hundred pounds. And he was a full vampire, which gave him the advantage of strength and speed. And he was smarter than the 'wolves; he wasn't just going to lunge. And Jez didn't have a weapon. "Just keep behind me, okay?" she snarled under her breath to Claire. The vampire grinned at that. H e knew Jez was vulnerable. She was going to have to keep half her attention on protecting Claire. And then, just as he was about to make an attack, Jez heard the smack of footsteps on concrete. Running footsteps, with a weird little hesitation between them, like somebody with a limp... She flashed a look toward the stairs. Hugh had just rounded the top. He was out of breath and bleeding from cuts on his face. But as soon as he saw her and the vampire he waved his arms and yelled. "Hey! Ugly Undead! Your friend missed me! You want to have a try?" Hugh? Jez thought in disbelief. Fighting? "Come on, hey; I'm here; I'm easy." Hugh was hopping toward the vampire, who was also flashing looks at him, trying to assess this new danger while not taking his focus off Jez.

Istana Iskandariah

Istana Iskandariah is the official residence of all the Sultans of Perak who have been installed since its completion in 1933. The palace is named after Sultan Iskandar Shah (1918-1938) who initiated its construction.

Istana Iskandariah is located at Bukit Chandan on the left bank of Sungai Perak upstream from Hilir Perak on the site of the former Istana Negara which was built in 1895 by Almarhum Sultan Idris Murshidul'adzam Shah (the late Sultan (in 1887-1916). It occupies an area of 10,435 square meters.


Upon the demise of Sultan Iskandar in 1938, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Aziz (1938-1948) succeeded him and moved into the palace. In 1948, Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah (1948-1963) moved from Istana Kota (Istana Hijau) to Istana Iskandariah to succeed Sultan Abdul Aziz and in 1963, Sultan Idris Shah II (1963-1984) ascended the throne and stayed there until his demise in 1984.

The design of the palace is based on the architecture of West Asia which is famous for its pointed arches and onion-shaped domes. The building is rectangular in shape and faces the sunrise and the river.

The roof is designed with one main dome in the centre and four subsidiary domes, one on each of the palace.

The palace is of there storey. The ground floor houses The Royal Dining Room, two Audience Halls, Reception Area, the Royal Rest Chambers, Ladies' Cloak Room, Aide-de-Camp's Office, Music Hall and the Royal Council Chamber.




On the first floor are located the Princesses' bedrooms, two Royal Guest Rooms and Their Royal Highnesses' suite; while the second floor houses of the Princess's bedrooms and another Royal Guest Room.


Above the second floor and under the main dome is a minaret. Here the hall measures 9.8 square meters and is used by the Royal family as a family hall.

In 1984, Istana Iskandariah was extended towards the rear by an additional 11,468 square meters, at the same level ass the main palace and is connected to it by a covered bridge at the first floor level.


The architecture of the extension is similar to that of the main palace so that it appears as if it were one building constructed at the same time.

The extension which measures 99 meters by 38.7 meters is rectangular in shape with one main dome and four smaller ones, one at each corner. AS can be seen now, the palace has two main domes and eight smaller ones located at each corner of the palace.

The ground floor of the extension is the garage for the Royal cars, the first floor is the new Banquet Hall, while the second floor is the new Throne Room (Balairong Seri).

The Throne Room and Banquet Hall are decorated with carvings of BUNGA KELUMPANG.

How do animals survive?

Animals survive through instinct and living in the natural environment that evolution has designed them for. When animals are born into their natural habitat, they are born with natural instincts inherited from their species that can be compared to the programming of a computer when you buy it (in this case when their born) that directs their actions for what they need to do to survive. Some creatures are left on their own to do this and some have their parent available to guide them and show them the techniques they need to survive. Sea turtles lay their eggs in pits dug on a beach and leave them to survive on their own. When the eggs hatch, the babies already have the instinct to dig out of their pit, crawl to the water and swim. Baby eagles or baby lions have instincts to fly or run and hunt but while they are maturing, they watch their parents to learn the tricks to being successful. Many types of creatures, like the sea turtles, need no example or instruction to survive and some need nurturing and training by parents but they are all born with the instincts that will take them into adulthood to reproduce themselves.

The Jackson 5 - The Motown Years

The Jackson 5 were more than a huge hit recording act. They were an international multi-media phenomenon who ushered Motown into its second decade with a stunningly fresh sound that has often been imitated but never duplicated.

Look beyond their unequaled chart success – their first four major label singles all reached No. 1 on the pop charts, they had a run of three years in which every single they released made the pop Top 20 and every single they released during their tenure on Motown reached the top 10 of the soul charts – and you find hour-long TV specials, an animated TV series, a extensive line of merchandise with the ubiquitous “J-5” logo in which both characters tailed into hearts, the popularization of the “robot” dance routine and regular cover stories in teen magazines. They rapidly became the pop sensation that Motown specialized in creating – and then reached new heights.

Most importantly, people loved them. “Words fail miserable when it comes to describing how instantly the flashy family captured hearts of all ages,” wrote music journalist A. Scott Galloway. “Grandparents wanted to adopt ’em and kids wanted to be them.” But the foundation for it all was great music, for which Motown is unmatched, and a stagecraft, which made them the rightful heirs of Sammy Davis, Jr., Jackie Wilson and James Brown.

Jackie (born May 4, 1951), Tito (October, 15 1953), Jermaine (December 11, 1954), Marlon (March 12, 1957) and Michael (August 29, 1958) hailed from Gary, Indiana, where their father Joe, a crane operator at a steel mill, had played blues guitar at local clubs; he began marshalling his sons into a family music group as far back as 1962. They played talent shows and amateur contests and continued to polish their act when about five years later, Gladys Knight first encountered them and recommended Motown take notice.

It would be Motown singer/producer Bobby Taylor who brought the quintet to Detroit not long after, began recording them, and alerted Berry Gordy’s assistant Suzanne de Passe of their immense abilities. She in turn told Gordy, whose initial response was, “I hate kid groups.” But once he saw these kids go through their routine on film, he whisked them to Los Angeles in the summer of ’68. Gordy set up old-style Motown Artist Development classes to refine their act and helped create a writing team – Deke Richards, Alphonzo Mizell, Freddie Perren and himself – dubbed “The Corporation,” to craft a smash debut record.

That song was “I Want You Back.” Motown historian Don Waller called it “probably the best pop record ever made.” Michael, the obvious centerpiece, conveyed an electric maturity well beyond his years. The B-side covered the Miracles’ “Who’s Loving You” from a decade earlier. It paired the type of vocal harmony that vocal groups would try to emulate decades later with Michael’s incredibly convincing plea, belying his pre-teen status; years later both Gordy and Smokey Robinson, its songwriter, would continue to marvel how Michael kicked Smokey’s original in the rear.

The group’s first LP, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, linked the boys with Motown’s biggest star and hit the top 5 of the pop album charts. In short order, the J-5 began cranking out more Number 1 singles – “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and the mighty ballad “I’ll Be There,” which topped the chart for six weeks and became Motown’s biggest selling single to date. Their next two LPs each climbed to Number 4. In less than a year, the Jackson 5 had stormed the world.

Their image soon took hold across the media: Five fun-loving kids with prominent afro hair styles wearing brightly colored patterned shirts and bell-bottomed pants who moved on stage in perfect synchronicity – Michael singing and dancing with furious control, shadowed by Marlon and Jackie while Tito on lead guitar and Jermaine on bass moved with them. Their drummer Johnny Jackson (no relation) and keyboard player Ronnie Rancifer, both also from Gary, rounded out their stage act.

On record, their direct and instantly recognizable energetic sound was built around funky rhythm tracks with Michael’s high pitched vocals offset perfectly by Jermaine’s huskier second lead and soulful harmonies. Two more huge hits followed in “Mama’s Pearl” and the sophisticated “Never Can Say Goodbye.” And even though “Maybe Tomorrow” didn’t crack the upper reaches of the pop chart, Motown launched solo careers for both Michael and Jermaine and they each had scored big hits by 1972.

There was a Christmas LP and a soundtrack album from their TV special. As the boys (and their fans) started to mature, so did their material. On 1972’s Lookin’ Through the Windows album, their seventh in less than four years, the title song and “Little Bitty Pretty One” were big hits and each showed the group wasn’t dependent on any formula to find an audience. That album featured more of Jermaine’s vocals than previously, but Michael was still ever-present and riveting as always.

The transition continued as the group moved increasingly toward dance music on the Get It Together LP, when producer Hal Davis matched the Jackson 5 with some of Norman Whitfield’s earlier material for the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Undisputed Truth. The result was a danceable groove that proved very popular in 1973, the title track especially becoming a favorite for Soul Train dancers on TV.

Sisters Janet and LaToya joined the stage act around this time and younger brother Randy became a permanent member of the group on percussion.

A year later, the metamorphosis was complete. The Jackson 5 had been guests on Stevie Wonder’s hit “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” a musical indictment of political hypocrisy and soon returned to the top of the charts on their own. “Dancing Machine,” plucked from the Get It Together LP, and remixed for single release and its own LP in ’74, went to No. 1. It inspired the robotic dance craze that really has never entirely died. The LP also had the cutting edge song “I Am Love,” as adventurous as anything Stevie was recording.

When their Motown contract expired, the group elected to sign to Epic Records, although Jermaine, who had married Berry’s daughter Hazel, stayed with Motown as a solo artist. But before the group moved on, they released one final LP, Moving Violation, in 1975 which contained the type of music that would usher in the disco era. Their version of “Forever Came Today,” an extended version of the Supremes hit packed dance floors when it was released in 1976 and became a No. 1 disco hit. Following the success of the Jacksons at their new label, Motown also issued two albums of vaulted tracks, Joyful Jukebox Music and Boogie. The J5 were inducted the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

The Jackson 5 had grown up before our eyes and their musical legacy remains a remarkable testament, not just to Michael’s greatness, but to their collective talent.

Baby Face Nelson

Born in Chicago, IL, as Lester Gillis, on December 6, 1908, he grew up on the streets, already an accomplished car thief and petty criminal by the time he was twelve years old. He was arrested for the first time when he was 13, and sentenced to a year in a juvenile correction facility. Soon after he was released, he was arrested again, and sentenced to 18 months incarceration. In 1931, Gillis, who had a number of aliases by this time, was convicted of bank robbery, and was sentenced to 1-10 years in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. While in jail, he was tried and convicted of another bank robbery charge, and was sentenced to a year to life in prison. While being transported between jails, the prisoner, who was calling himself George Nelson at that time, escaped. He hooked up with John Chase, and would continue in partnership with him until their deaths.

In 1933, Nelson shot and killed a man during a robbery. He went on to murder several others, including some FBI agents. By this time, Nelson was working with John Dillinger's gang.

During a chase in 1934, Nelson was shot and mortally wounded. Acting on a tip, FBI agents found his body wrapped in a blanket at the side of the road near a cemetery in Illinois.

Nelson was married to Helen Wawzynak, and they had two children.

Pedro Flores The Inventor of Yo-yos

Yo-yo has been played in the Phillippines and many parts of the world for hundred of years. The word yo-yo means "come back" in Tagalog. The modern yo-yo was developed and introduced by a Filipino, Pedro Flores. It was his favourite game that he played during his childhood days.

Pedro Flores came to the United States in 1915. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley and the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco but did not complete his law degree for reasons unknown. He did not go back to the Phillippines and decided to stay in California, America.

It all started when he read about a man selling a ball attached to a rubber band in the newspaper and became very rich. It reminded him of the game yo-yo which was played in the Phillippines. He decided to improve it. He made a dozen yo-yos by hand and started to sell them to the children in his neighbourhood. The response was good. In 1928, Pedro set up a company to produce yo-yos. After about one year, he managed to set up three factories and employed 600 workers to produce 300000 yo-yos daily.

The yo-yo was then promoted as the Flores yo-yo. Many competitions were held throughout America. Since then, the yo-yo game became popular.

Yo-yo now had become a very popular game all over the world. It is a game that generates children's creavity in performing and creating new tricks. Thanks to Pedro Flores for inventing such a wonderful game.

Why Can't We Swallow Chewing Gum?

This question has troubled me for some time now. Its an absurd question, I was like you ignorant fools once, but then one day it hit me, obviously an individual can swallow chewing gum otherwise it would not be distributed in retail markets. Are you seriously accusing your local retailer of trying to cause harm to your temple like body?

One day a man walked down the road, he purchased a packet of Adams Old Time Classic Chiclets Chewing Gum - Mint Flavour. He thought that if he swallowed the gum then he would surely die, so he tried so hard to avoid this that it became inevitable that it would happen. He swallowed it, but still in the spirit of trying to avoid such an occurence he choked and died.
This story carries the moral that you should infact always go out to swallow the gum that you purchase, then you won't choke to death.



NO YOU SHOULD NEVER SWALLOW CHEWING GUM YOU CAN DIE FROM SWALLOWING IT DONT KILL THE WORLD YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!11



One time i swallowed half a roll of bubble tape and it didn't affect me one bit. It doesn't matter.

to be honest it all depends on the size of the gum and how you swallow it, if its big then you could choke, if its small you should be fine. it also depends on the shape.


I only swallow the gum thats like really moist and slimey. not slimey LOL but you knoww. gooeyy. really wett. soaked in saliva IDUNNO xD

Why Can't We Swallow Chewing Gum?

This question has troubled me for some time now. Its an absurd question, I was like you ignorant fools once, but then one day it hit me, obviously an individual can swallow chewing gum otherwise it would not be distributed in retail markets. Are you seriously accusing your local retailer of trying to cause harm to your temple like body?

One day a man walked down the road, he purchased a packet of Adams Old Time Classic Chiclets Chewing Gum - Mint Flavour. He thought that if he swallowed the gum then he would surely die, so he tried so hard to avoid this that it became inevitable that it would happen. He swallowed it, but still in the spirit of trying to avoid such an occurence he choked and died.
This story carries the moral that you should infact always go out to swallow the gum that you purchase, then you won't choke to death.



NO YOU SHOULD NEVER SWALLOW CHEWING GUM YOU CAN DIE FROM SWALLOWING IT DONT KILL THE WORLD YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!11



One time i swallowed half a roll of bubble tape and it didn't affect me one bit. It doesn't matter.

to be honest it all depends on the size of the gum and how you swallow it, if its big then you could choke, if its small you should be fine. it also depends on the shape.


I only swallow the gum thats like really moist and slimey. not slimey LOL but you knoww. gooeyy. really wett. soaked in saliva IDUNNO xD

Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar (population about 165,00) is a well preserved old Royal Town where its serenity and its well-maintained old palaces are worth a mention. Located 60km Northeast of Ipoh at the mouth of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River, It is home to generations of Sultans and their families. The sultan of Perak officially resides in Kuala Kangsar, and it has been Perak's royal seat since the 18th century.



It was the administrative seat of the first British Resident in the Malay Peninsula, James W.W. Birch, from October 1874 until he was murdered on November 2, 1875. Kuala Kangsar is known in Malaysian history as the site where the first Conference of Rulers, the Durbar, was held in 1897. By the 1890s, the growth of the tin mining towns of Ipoh and Taiping had eclipsed Kuala Kangsar, but it remains to this day one of the most attractive of the Malay royal capitals.


The name Kuala Kangsar is believed to be derived its name from the “kangsar” tree (hibiscus flocossus) which grows in abundance along the banks of the Sungai Kangsar, a tributary of the Sungai Perak. Another says the name was handed down by explorers who established a settlement at the mouth of the river. They had called the place “Kuala Kurang Sa”, short for “Kuala Kurang Seratus” which means “one short of hundred” because there are 99 tributaries there.


Perak River Safari
The River Safari along the Perak River offers sights of riverine villages, domestic buffaloes, terrapin and other inhabitants, birds and insects, tropical rain forest that reach down to the water’s edge and agile monkeys playing catch-me-if-you-can in the forest cover. Malaysia’s river eco-system is open for your exploration. The eco-tourist will definitely experience an unforgettable adventure as the trip

River Safaris are conducted by several experts who have reservation booths along the Perak River at Jalan Tebing, Tepi Sungai. A 25-minutes ride to Jawang is followed by a two hour river cruise. The activities in which you can participate in Jawang include bird watching, jungle trekking, rafting, canoeing, fishing and visits to limestone caves. You can even arrange to spend a few nights in an Orang Asli Village.


Suka Suka Lake Resort
Sukasuka is a small private island in the middle of a Lake situated about 18km from Kuala Kangsar. Nearby are the villages of Batu Reng and Kg. Kelantan. The artificial lake caused by the hydroelectric dam is a place to just lay back, chill and relax. You will meet your very hospitable hosts, Aziz and Aisha twhom will make you feel welcome. A great way to experience traditional Malay living - eating good Malay dishes, wear traditional Sarongs and learn about local village customs. You get get to also play card games or learn to play the a fun and addictive local game called Chongkak. If offers basic A-frame bungalows with communal facilities and en-suite facilities. You can swom at the lake or also head to the nearby waterfall (mind the leeches though). Hosts were Muslim - no drink whilst on the Island.

Activities - Touring Kayak / Fishing / Jungle Trekking / Mountain Climbing / Waterfall walk / Boat tour / rafting / Playing Congkak - Indoor / Fruit picking ( season only)

For those who drive, it take around 45 min from (Ipoh) Jelapang Tol Plaza, you will reach Kuala Kangsar Plaza tol and take a straight way to Grik, which is abt 15 min form the Tol Plaza you will see Kampung Kelantan signboard and turn right - you can find the jetty to Sukasuka Island by end of that road. Boat ride to Suka Suka Lake Resort takes about 20 minutes


Oldest Rubber Tree
Also here is one of two oldest rubber trees in Peninsula that have survived the years.Of the first nine rubber trees planted with seeds from the Kew Gardens in London brought by first Perak Resident Sir Hugh Low in 1877, only one still stands next to the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council building.

The tour of this royal town does not stop here with so many other old buildings worth visiting like the Clifford School and the Victoria Bridge.



Handicrafts
Kuala Kangsar is also known for its handicraft industry.
Sayong, about 10km away across the Iskandar Bridge from Kuala Kangsar, is home to the labu sayong or earthen water pitcher. Makers of the labu sayong, be it those who adopt the traditional way of moulding with hands or using casts to set in, are aplenty at Kampung Kepala Bendang where this particular type of water pitcher originated.

The craft bazaar along the Sungai Perak offers local handicraft items such as “bubu hiasan” (decorative fish traps), “tikar mengkuang” mats, tekat benang emas (gold embroidery) and “anyaman rotan” (rattan woven) items.


Food
Kuala Kangsar is also known for its food, including the “laksa gandum"
made of wheat flour as compared to the northern “laksa” of rice flour, which goes along well with the “cendol” or “ais kacang” drink at the riverside stalls.
The traditional kuih (sweet cakes) of the town are still prepared in the traditional way. A popular delicacy is the kuih apam tepung beras, and Kuih Labu’ (pumpkin cakes wrapped in banana leaves). The town is also famous for its gulai tempoyak (fermented durian dish) prepared with the patin, baung or other river fish. Food stalls at Dataran Sungai Perak offer famous local delicacies like gulai tempoyak ikan patin, laksa kuala and grilled fish.

Negeri Sembilan

History: Negeri Sembilan was settled between the 15th and 16th century by the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra who migrated to the region during the Malay Sultanate in Malacca. In its early history, it was a loose confederation of nine fiefdoms, hence the name "Negeri Sembilan" or "Nine States". Negeri Sembilan emerges as a politcal unit in 1773 when Raja Melewar, a prince of the Minangkabau ruling house at Pagar Ruyong, was invited to become ruler, the Yam Tuan, and founded the dynasty which still occupies the throne. The history of modern Negeri Sembilan began with the discovery of tin in the state. This led to minor wars in Sungai Ujong, Rembau, and Jelebu, which led to British intervention and British power in the state. Martin Lister was appointed the first British Resident. In 1889, the Yam Tuan Seri Menanti was installed as the ruler of all Negeri Sembilan. Today however, there are only seven districts.

Bali Tourism

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Bali for few years awarded as the world best island by The International Travel Magazine. There, however, are still many people who do not know in depth about the uniqueness of Balinese culture. Life in Bali is always related to "Tri Hita Karana" or a tripartite concept that include the spiritual relationship between human and God, and their environment.

The rapid growth of development in tourism has had a big impact and influences to Bali tradition and lifestyle. Interestingly, Balinese culture is still as what it was, growing along with the of globalization. It is the Balinese civilization what makes the island different from other destination.

Kenapa Kita Perlu Belajar?

Pendidikan adalah lebih dari itu.Bukan sekadar mendapat pengetahuan untuk dibuat jawapan dalam kertas jawapan. Mencari ilmu itu adalah suatu ibadah bagi orang Islam, dan bagi yang bukan Islam mungkin sebagai pemangkin untuk mendapat pekerjaan yang profesional, dan seterusnya menaikkan martabat dan kedudukan negara sebagai Negara Islam yang mampu berdaya saing dalam bidang profesional.

Sesetengah pelajar mungkin tidak berfikiran jauh dan tidak mahu mengakui bahawa mereka itu adalah pelapis harapan bangsa.Tetapi InsyaAllah, saya yakin anda semua berfikiran ke hadapan. Anda semua adalah orang yang mahu berjaya, bukan sahaja di dunia malah di akhirat.Mungkin juga anda para pelajar terfikir, `Saya masih kecil, apa saya hairan dengan ekonomi dan pembangunan negara?` Sesungguhnya, bangun dan rebahnya sesebuah negara terletak kepada remaja-remaja negara itu.

Anda tidak percaya?? Atau anda sengaja tidak mahu mengakui bahawa andalah yang akan memimpin negara..ye ANDA! Bukan nenek yang tengah menyiram pokok bunga, bukan datuk yang tengah membawa beca ,bukan ayah yang sedang bekerja di pejabat.

Mengapa anda merasakan anda tidak bertanggungjawab dalam urusan sesebuah negara, sedangkan andalah tujuan negara membuat pembangunan,untuk andalah semua ini,supaya negara sentiasa maju dan aman dan dapat diwarisi oleh waris-waris kita nanti.

Adik-adikku...

Anda boleh melihat pejuang-pejuang negara kita mempertahankan negara bangsa semasa dijajah oleh penjajah-penjajah tidak lama dulu? Adik-adikku, bukan senang untuk merdeka, tetapi sayang kemerdekaan kita bukan kemerdekaan hakiki, bukan kemerdekaan secara total kerana negara kita sedang rebah dan menanti masa untuk dipijak oleh kerana ketandusan pemuda pemudi harapan bangsa. Kerana apa? Kerana generasi-generasi kita sekarang ketandusan ilmu, hilang akal fikiran untuk berfikir mana satu yang patut dicontohi. Fahaman sekular yang mengasingkan agama dengan kehidupan atau fahaman yang diajar oleh Rasullulah S.A.W. yang mengajar Islam itu adalah ad-deen .

Begitulah pentingnya anda, jikalau anda yang membaca ini berfikir aku bukan apa-apa,aku hanyalah sampah masyarakat, aku hanyalah pencuri, aku hanyalah penagih dadah yang hanya boleh dilabel sebagai tahi masyarakat. Maka anda semua silap, semua manusia di dunia ini ada hak untuk menjalani kehidupan yang diingini. Mungkin itu takdir kita, tetapi manusia juga perlu berusaha menjadi sesuatu yang lebih baik. Allah tidak akan mengubah nasib sesuatu kaum, selagi kaum itu tidak mengubah nasib mereka.

Kebanyakan pelajar-pelajar di Malaysia hanya sekadar menghafal dan mungkin juga ada yang memahami sesuatu pelajaran itu ,tetapi mereka hanya mampu mengeluarkan ilmu yang dipelajari hanya pada sekeping kertas, yang tidak mempunyai nilai dan harga.
“ Eh!! Ape pula tiada harga, result exam saya bergantung pada kertas itu la”

Ya, memang benar keputusan peperiksaan kamu bergantung kepada jawapan yang kamu berikan. Tetapi pernahkah anda terfikir, apa lagi yang boleh dilakukan jikalau kita mempunyai ilmu ? Banyak adik-adik..Apa yang anda semua pelajari mungkin boleh digunakan lebih daripada jangkauan minda anda sendiri. Mungkin dengan menggunakan ilmu yang anda pelajari, anda boleh menghentikan serangan Yahudi ke atas Palestin, atau mungkin juga pelajaran anda itu boleh digunakan untuk menyelamatkan kawan kamu daripada menagih dadah atau mungkin lebih dari itu.

Itulah yang dinamakan beramal dengan ilmu yang dipelajari. Saya tidak yakin bahawa apa yang kita pelajari dapat digunakan sepenuhnya di medan pekerjaan. Sememangnya ada yang membantu, tetapi kita akan sentiasa menambah ilmu untuk bekerja supaya kita tidak ketinggalan.

Adik-adikku...

Memang senang sahaja bercakap, dan mungkin susah untuk dilakukan, tetapi usaha itu penting.Jikalau tanpa usaha, kita tidak akan ke mana-mana. Sememangnya tidak ada yang akan berubah jika kita hanya duduk.Bahkan kalau kita duduk sahaja, makan, tidur dan buang air besar di tempat yang sama. Apa yang akan terjadi? Maka bersepahlah rumah kita ,tunggang langganglah rumah kita. Samalah dengan manusia pada hari ini, berbincang tentang faktor-faktor buang bayi, tetapi apa yang masyarakat lakukan untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut? Hal ini bukanlah atas tanggungjawab ibu kepada anak itu, tetapi tanggungjawab kepada semua orang.

Ya, saya mengerti, anda semua masih remaja dan tidak ada sebabnya saya membawa kamu berfikir kepada perkara sesulit ini. Tetapi kehidupan manusia itu tidak akan bermakna jikalau manusia itu tidak ingin berfikir terhadap apa yang berlaku di sekelilingnya.

Sekarang, mari saya bawa anda semua tentang realiti kehidupan . Para ibu bapa hari ini ingin melihat anak-anak mereka berjaya bukan sahaja di dunia malahan juga di akhirat. Tetapi, sedihnya sesetengah para ibu bapa hari ini hanya mementingkan kehidupan di dunia dan bukan kedua-duanya. Tetapi saya yakin, anda semua adalah manusia yang sudah boleh berfikir apa yang baik untuk diri kamu semua. Jangan menyalahkan ibu bapa atau orang sekeliling sekiranya anda tersalah memilih jalan. Salahkan diri anda sendiri kerana berat mulut hendak bertanya, dan salahkan diri anda sendiri kerana tidak mahu ringan tulang mencari ilmu.

Adik-adikku, saya hendak bertanya satu soalan, kalau anda seorang yang suka berfikir, sudah tentu anda akan dapat menjawabnya.
Siapa kamu? Manusia atau bukan manusia? Manusia adalah benda hidup. Anda boleh berjalan, makan, berlari dan bernafas.. Betul tidak?
Ilmu itu apa? Bukan benda hidup atau benda hidup? Ilmu itu manusia kah?
Semestinya bukan benda hidup kerana ilmu tidak boleh bernafas, tidak boleh berjalan, apa lagi makan. Jadinya bagaimana caranya ilmu itu hendak datang kepada kita jika ilmu itu tiada kaki? Jadi, sudah pasti kita lah yang patut berlari ke arah ilmu.

Adik-adikku, ingatlah sebelum kamu berlari mencari ilmu, cuba berfikir sejenak dan bertanya pada diri anda sendiri, mengapa anda ingin belajar? Mengapa anda ingin mencari ilmu? Jawapannya hanya anda yang tahu. Tepuk dada tanya minda?

Quote

Bacalah dengan nama Tuhanmu
Itulah permulaan ilmu
Sebagai yang telah diwahyukan
Menuntut ilmu satu kewajipan

Ilmu menjadi penyuluh jalan
Dengan ilmu dapat kemuliaan
Ilmu memajukan kehidupan
Ilmu yang baik dapat keberkatan

Sabda Rasul junjungan
Carilah ilmu pengetahuan
Dari dalam buaian
Hingga hari kematian

Tuntutlah ilmu hai teman
Janganlah kita siakan
Untuk masa hadapan
Agama dan bangsa

Utlubul 'ilma
Walaw fissin
Tuntutlah ilmu
Walau ke negeri China

Jangan berilmu tanpa amalan
Bagai pohon tanpa buahnya
Ilmu yang berkat membuatkan taqwa
Bermanfaat sesama insan

Bangkok

Bangkok, The City of Angels or "Krungthep" [กรุงเทพมหานคร] in Thai, is the capital city of Thailand. Bangkok is the hub for most of the commercial and economical activities of the Kingdom. At the same time, the City is very famous and appreciated by visitors for its versatility and multiple points of interests. From temples, the Grand Palace, all the way over the some of Asia's largest shopping centers and the largest outdoor market of Asia (Chatuchak), Bangkok definitely has what it takes to entertain visitors from all origins, either first time or return travelers. Whilst Taxi fares are very reasonable, most of the sightseeing can comfortably be reached by Skytrain (BTS) or Underground train (MRT). Aside of the sightseeing and shopping, Bangkok has developed into a magnet for food lovers of all origins. The same range of choice applies to the accommodation options all over town, from high end international chain hotels to family run guesthouses, demands of all travelers are met. In terms of wellness and relaxation – Bangkok has recently seen a huge development of city Spas and Wellness centers, in addition to the long established Thai massage centers.

Sugarbeets

I. History:
Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) growing for sucrose production became successful in the United States starting about 1870. Earlier attempts at sugarbeet production were not totally successful. Once a viable industry was established, sugarbeets were grown in 26 states. About 1,400,000 acres were produced in 14 states in 1990. Minnesota and North Dakota produced about 550,000 acres. Other leading sugarbeet states are Idaho, California, Michigan, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Texas. Canada produces sugarbeets in Manitoba and Alberta. Russia leads worldwide production of sugarbeets with nearly 8,500,000 acres followed by Poland, France, West Germany and Turkey with about 1,000,000 acres each. The United States beet sugar industry has experienced great change in the last three decades. A total of 10 beet processors operated 53 factories in 18 states in 1973 while nine companies operated only 36 factories in the United States in 1990.

II. Uses:
Sugarbeets are used primarily for production of sucrose, a high energy pure food. Man's demand for sweet foods is universal. Honey was the main sweetener for primitive man. Trade in sugar from sugarcane can be traced to primitive times too. The sugarbeet was recognized as a plant with valuable sweetening properties in the early 1700s.

A. Human Food:
Sucrose from sugarbeets is the principal use for sugarbeets in the United States. Sugarbeets contain from 13 to 22% sucrose. Sucrose is used widely as a pure high energy food or food additive. High fiber dietary food additives are manufactured from sugarbeet pulp and major food processors in the United States have used these dietary supplements in recently introduced new products including breakfast cereals.

B. Livestock Feed:
Sugarbeet pulp and molasses are processing by-products widely used as feed supplements for livestock. These products provide required fiber in rations and increase the palatability of feeds. Sugarbeet tops also can be used for livestock feed. Sheep and cattle ranchers allow grazing of beet fields in the fall to utilize tops. Cattle and sheep also will eat small beets left in the field after harvest but producers grazing livestock in harvested fields should be aware of the risk of livestock choking on small beets.

Beet tops (leaves and petioles) also can be used as silage. Sugarbeets that produce 20 tons/acre of roots also produce a total of about 5 tons/acre of TDN per acre in the tops. Tops are an excellent source of protein, vitamin A, and carbohydrates but are slightly inferior to alfalfa haylage or corn silage for beef cattle. Tops are equal to alfalfa haylage or corn silage for sheep. Beet top silage is best fed in combination with other feeds. Tops should be windrowed in the field and allowed to wilt to 60-65% moisture before ensiling. See Morrisons Feeds and Feeding Handbook for a detailed description of the nutrient content of sugarbeet tops and roots.

C. Industrial Uses:
Molasses by-products from sugarbeet processing are used widely in the alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and bakers yeast industries. Waste lime from the processing of sugarbeets is an excellent soil amendment to increase soil pH levels. Waste lime is a good source of P & K plant nutrients. Treated processing waste water also may be used for irrigation.

III. Growth Habit:
Sugarbeet is a biennial plant which was developed in Europe in the 18th century from white fodder beets. Sugar reserves are stored in the sugarbeet root during the first growing season for an energy source during overwintering. The roots are harvested for sugar at the end of the first growing season but plants which overwinter in a mild climate will produce flowering stems and seed during the following summer and fall. Sugarbeet roots win not survive the winter in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Sugarbeet is a summertime crop in the northern United States and a winter or summer crop in more southern, semi-arid regions. Sugarbeet seed for the United States is produced in Oregon where the climate is cool enough for vernalization but warm enough for the roots to live through the winter.

The plant has a taproot system that utilizes water and soil nutrients to depths of 5 to 8 ft. As sugarbeet plants emerge, a pair of cotyledons unfold. Successive leaves develop in pairs throughout the growing season. The life expectancy of sugarbeet leaves varies from 45 to 65 days and is temperature dependent.

Photothermal induction is necessary to bring about complete reproductive development of the plant. The sugarbeet normally is a diploid plant. It is cross pollinated with wind being the effective agent.

IV. Environment Requirements:
A. Climate:
Sugarbeets have adapted to a very wide range of climatic conditions. Sugarbeets primarily are a temperate zone crop produced in the Northern Hemisphere at latitudes of 30 to 60°N. Sugarbeets can be produced in hotter and more humid environments, however, problems with insects, disease and low quality of the crop are more common in such geographical arm.

The sugarbeet plant grows until harvested or growth is stopped by a hard freeze. Sugarbeets primarily grow tops until the leaf canopy completely covers the soil surface in a field. This normally takes 70 to 90 days from planting. Optimal daytime temperatures are 60 to 80°F for the first 90 days of plant growth. Regions with long day length are most suitable for sugarbeet growth. The most favorable environment for producing a sugarbeet crop from 90 days after emergence to harvest is bright, sunny days with 65 to 80°F temperatures followed by nighttime temperatures of 40 to 50°F. These environmental conditions maximize yield and quality in a sugarbeet crop.

B. Soil:
Sugarbeets are well adapted to a wide range of soil types. In the United States, sugarbeets am produced on coarse textured sandy soils to high organic matter, high clay content, silty clay or silty clay loam soils. A soil free or nearly free of stones is particularly desirable. Stones cause problems for sugarbeet planting, thinning, harvesting and processing equipment. Dryland sugarbeet production generally is limited to soils with high water holding capacities in areas with 20 in. of rainfall or more. Sugarbeets are successfully produced under irrigation in regions with very low rainfall.

V. Cultural Practices:
A. Seedbed Preparation:
Field selection and seedbed preparation are critical to establishment of the sugarbeet crop. Objectives are to manage crop residues effectively, minimize erosion, improve soil structure to meet needs of the crop and eliminate early season weeds.

Fall tillage should be matched to soil type, amount and type of previous crop residue present, and be compatible with soil conservation requirements. Mold board plows, chisel plows, disks and field cultivators all have been successfully used for primary fall tillage. Fall tillage systems should maintain enough residue on the soil surface to prevent erosion or be compatible with cover cropping systems for erosion control. Spring tillage should be kept to an absolute minimum. Objectives are to preserve seedbed moisture, maintain enough crop residues on the soil to stop erosion, and reduce the chance of wind damage to weak sugarbeet seedlings as they emerge. The spring seedbed should be as level as possible and firm to well packed to allow good seed to soil contact when planting. Common spring tillage tools are light harrows, multiweeders, and combination Danish tine, harrow, rolling basket tillage tool systems. Spring tillage should be only 1 to 2 in. deep. Planting should be done as quickly as possible after spring tillage before seedbed drying can occur. Sugarbeets are planted only 0.75 to 1.5 in. deep.

Sugarbeets have been successfully planted with no-till, with strip tillage in previous crop residues, and other reduced tillage systems. These tillage alternatives often require specialized equipment, greater planning and better management to be successful.

B. Seeding Date:
Research in North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and other states indicates highest yields and crop quality are attained with early planting. Growers generally accept some risk of early frost damage and plant early. Optimum planting dates in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin are from April 20 to May 10. Sugarbeets have been successfully planted as early as April 1st. They may be planted as late as June 10 and stiff produce a harvestable crop. Yields decline about 1.5 tons/week with each week delay in planting after May 10. Seedling sugarbeet plants have good tolerance to mild frosts and have survived temperatures in the mid-twenty degree range.

C. Method and Rate of Seeding:
Sugarbeets are planted with precision row crop planters. Plate and cell wheel planters or newer vacuum or air planters all work well. Sugarbeets may be planted to thin to a final stand or space planted to a desired final plant population. Seeding rates vary from 1 to 2 lbs of seed/acre. Sugarbeet planters should not be operated at more than four miles per hour. Planting speeds greater than four miles per hour result in increased skips, increased seed doubles or triples and seed damage. Sugarbeet seed should not be planted greater than 1.5 in. deep.

D. Row Width and Plant Populations:
Narrow row widths produce higher yields and quality than wide rows. Sugarbeets in narrow rows compete better with weeds also. Optimum row widths are 18 to 24 in., with 22 in. rows being most common. Sugarbeets may be planted in 30 in. rows for equipment convenience and compatibility with other row crops in rotation. However, sugarbeets planted in 30 in. rows commonly yield 400 to 600 lbs less recoverable sugar per acre than in 22 in. rows, with the same harvest populations. Also, higher more uniform plant populations, which will result in greater yield and quality, are easier to establish on narrow rows.

Sugarbeet plant populations should be from 30,000 to 40,000 uniformly spaced plants per acre at fiarvest. These populations should produce very good yields of easily harvested high quality sugarbeets. Growers can expect plants to be established from only 60 to 70% of the seed planted. Loss of 5 to 15% of established seedlings can be expected between planting or thinning and harvest depending on growing conditions.

E. Crop Rotations:
Yields and quality usually are highest when sugarbeets follow barley or wheat in the crop rotation. Yields usually are high when sugarbeets follow corn, potatoes or summer fallow in rotation, but higher than desirable residual soil nitrogen levels may follow these crops and reduce sugarbeet quality. Three years research in Minnesota indicated sugarbeet yielded significantly less when following soybeans versus barley in rotation. One year of research indicated sugarbeet yields also were reduced following dry edible beans in rotation.

F. Fertility and Cultural Practices:
Sugarbeets do not grow well on highly acidic soils and grow best on soils with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. Sugarbeet culture on soils with pH lower than 6.0 should not be attempted until liming raises the pH to 7.0 or greater.

Profitable sugarbeet production depends largely on a high sucrose content/high tonnage crop. To accomplish this, growth-limiting factors such as soil fertility must be managed effectively.

Sugarbeets are unique in their nitrogen (N) requirements. Too little nitrogen results in poor leaf canopies, premature yellowing and reduced yields, while too much nitrogen leads to a reduced sucrose content, increased impurities and lowered sucrose extraction. For proper nitrogen management, pregrowing season soil nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) should be determined in a reputable laboratory that uses appropriate procedures and interpretations. NO3-N is mobile in the soil so residual nitrogen level should be determined annually. Phosphorus and potassium should be determined every three to four years.

Sugarbeet quality involves two concepts: the percent sucrose in the root and the level of impurities in the root, both of which affect sucrose extraction by the processor. Production of high quality sugarbeets is especially important to growers whose payment is based on the extractable sucrose content of their beets.

Proper nitrogen fertilizer use normally increases yield of both roots and sucrose and also may increase impurities and decrease the percent sucrose in the root. Use soil test information to select fields with nitrogen levels suited to expected yields, and to select fertilizer rates appropriate for expected yield goals. Excessive amounts of either residual or fertilizer nitrogen usually significantly lowers beet quality. Sugarbeets require 8 to 9 lbs of nitrogen/ton to produce a high quality, good yielding crop.

Table 1 shows the nitrogen, phosphate and potash recommendations for sugarbeets.

Table 1. Nitrogen, phosphate and potash recommendations for sugarbeets

Sugarbeet yield goal
Soil N plus fertilizer N needed*
Phosphorus
P Soil test Levels lb/acre)
Potassium
K Soil test Levels (lb/acre)

L 0-9
M 10-19
H 20-29
VH Over 30
L 0-99
M 100-199
H 200-299
VH Over 300

ton/acre
lb/acre/2 ft
P2O5 lb/acre
K2O lb/acre

16
95
60
35
10
0
85
50
15
0

17
100
60
35
10
0
90
55
20
0

18
110
65
40
15
0
95
55
20
0

19
115
70
40
15
0
100
60
20
0

20
120
75
45
15
0
105
65
20
0

22
130
80
50
15
0
115
70
25
0


*Subtract amount of NO3-N in top 2 feet of soil from these figures to determine the amount of N fertilizer to apply.
1All recommendations are for broadcast applications.

When selecting a sugarbeet yield goal and requesting fertilizer recommendations, remember that recoverable sugar is the product desired. Over-fertilization, particularly with nitrogen, can result in poor quality beets and reduced net returns. Therefore, judicious use of manageable factors such as nitrogen fertilizer, early planting, even spacing, adequate plant populations, weed control, timeliness of operations, disease and insect control all will improve recoverable sugar yield. A good method for selecting a yield goal is to use a yield approximately three tons/acre lower than the greatest yield produced on your farm or in your area.

Recent research in Minnesota and North Dakota indicated early season growth and/or yield responses to starter fertilizer occurred about 40% of the time. Significant responses are most likely to occur when soils test very low to low in phosphorus or have low levels of available nitrogen in the top 6 in. of soil.

Sugarbeet seeds and seedlings are sensitive to fertilizer salts. Germination damage may occur if excess nitrogen or potassium fertilizer is placed in direct contact with seed. In some areas, straight phosphate fertilizer materials may not be available in sufficient quantities. In this case, use monoammonium phosphate (11-48-0) or 10-34-0 liquid as a starter fertilizer. Seed germination reduction should be negligible from 5 or less pounds of nitrogen per acre in contact with beet seed and any slight effect would be more than offset by the improved yields from the banded phosphorus application on very low-testing soils. Do not apply more than 5 to 6 lbs/acre of nitrogen plus potassium as a starter in contact with the seed.

Sugarbeets growing on soils that test very low in phosphorus and/or potassium depend heavily on applied fertilizer. On soils testing medium or above, the crop is much less dependent on applied fertilizer. Fertilizer is applied on these soils to replace nutrients removed by the crop and/or as a starter to get the crop off to a fast start, especially in cool, cloudy springs. On very low testing soils where the plants depend largely on fertilizer for their needs, the method of application will influence the amount of fertilizer that plants can recover. Broadcast fertilizer is thoroughly mixed with the soil and, as a result, some is positionally unavailable to plant roots. Band or drill row fertilizer is applied closer to the seed and can be recovered more efficiently by the crop.

Sugarbeets are among the crops least susceptible to secondary and micronutrient deficiencies. The exception may be a susceptibility to boron and manganese shortages. Zinc deficiency has been reported on infrequent occasions in Minnesota. Responses to other micronutrients have not been reported or demonstrated. A soil test for these nutrients will answer questions that arise about possible needs for manganese, copper, or iron.

Calcium deficiency may be observed in sugarbeets in Minnesota and North Dakota. However, the deficiency apparently is a physiological problem. Soils in this area are high in calcium and application of calcium-containing fertilizers will not correct the deficiency. Yield losses due to this problem have not been documented.

G. Variety Selection:
Commercial sugarbeet variety development has been exclusively by private sugar and seed companies in the United States. American Crystal Sugar Company, Moorhead, Minnesota conducts the most comprehensive variety trials in the United States.

American Crystal's coded variety trials are designed to give an unbiased evaluation of the genetic potential of all sugarbeet variety entries while other variables (stand, fertility, moisture levels, etc.) are kept constant. These evaluations are used to establish a list of approved varieties which insures the use of the most productive varieties to maximize returns to the growers and sugar companies.

H. Weed Control:
Sugarbeets are poor competitors with weeds from emergence until the sugarbeet leaves shade the ground. Emerging sugarbeets are small, lack vigor, and take approximately two months to shade the ground. Thus, weeds have a long period to become established and compete. Sugarbeets are relatively short even after they shade the ground so many weeds that become established in a field prior to ground shading will become taller than the sugarbeets, shade the sugarbeets, and cause severe yield losses. To avoid yield loss from weed competition, weeds should be totally controlled by four weeks after sugarbeet emergence and weed control should be maintained throughout the season.

A combination of cultural, chemical, and mechanical weed control methods should be used to maximize weed control in sugarbeets. Some weed species such as kochia, common mallow, common milkweed, and velvetleaf are difficult or impossible to control selectively in sugarbeets with herbicides. These weeds in particular, and all weeds in general, should be effectively controlled in other crops in the rotation. Spot spraying or hand weeding small areas should be used to prevent establishment of problem weeds. Sugarbeets should not be planted on fields badly infested with problem weeds.

Cultivation with a row crop cultivator is a universal and essential weed control method in sugarbeets. Also, the rotary hoe or spring tine harrow can be used to remove small weeds from well rooted sugar beets. Hand weeding is still an important method of weed control in sugarbeets with 76% the acres in Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota receiving some hand weeding in 1989. Ile decision on using hand weeding or other methods of weed control should be based on expected economic returns. Generally herbicides will be more cost effective than hand weeding in moderate to heavy weed densities. Hand weeding may be more cost effective in low weed densities, especially if the target weed species are herbicide tolerant or too large for effective control.

1. Preemereence Contact or Tillage Substitution Herbicides. Glyphosate (several trade names) can be applied before sugarbeets emerge, to emerged weeds at 0.19 to 0.75 lb/acre (0.5 to 2 pt/acre). Use the higher rate on larger weeds, more resistant weeds, or if the plants are under moisture stress. Use 0.75 lb/acre to control living small grain cover crops. When low rates of glyphosate are used, apply in 3 to 10 gallons of water per acre by ground or in 3 to 5 gpa by air. Delay tillage for at least 3 days after treatment. Glyphosate is a non-selective translocated postemergence herbicide with no soil residual activity. A non-ionic surfactant should be used with glyphosate.

Paraquat (Gramoxone Extra) can be applied before sugarbeets emerge to emerged weeds at 0.62 to 0.94 lb/acre (2 to 3 pt/acre). Apply in 5 to 10 gpa of water by air or in 20 to 60 gpa by ground. Paraquat is a non-selective contact herbicide with no soil residual activity. A nonionic surfactant should be used with paraquat.

2. Soil-applied Herbicides: Good weed control with preemergence (non-incorporated) herbicides requires rainfall after application. Herbicides which are incorporated into the soil surface usually require less rainfall after application for effective weed control than unincorporated herbicides. Weeds emerging through a preemergence; herbicide treatment may be controlled by rotary hoeing or harrowing without reducing the effect of the herbicide unless the harrow or rotary hoe removes the herbicide from a treated band.

The reasons for using soil-applied herbicide in sugarbeets include the following:

To reduce early season weed competition.
To make postemergence herbicides more effective by increasing weed susceptibility and by reducing the total weed population.
To provide weed control if unfavorable weather prevents timely cultivations or postemergence herbicide applications.
A single herbicide treatment usually will not give total weed control. A preemergence or preplant incorporated herbicide followed by postemergence herbicides often will improve weed control compared to preemergence or preplant incorporated herbicides alone or postemergence herbicides alone.
Incorporation of Herbicides: Many herbicides applied before crop and weed emergence need to be incorporated to give optimum weed control. Included in this group are cycloate (Ro-Neet) and EPTC (Eptam). Weed control from ethofumesate (Nortron), pyrazon (Pyramin), and diethatyl (Antor) generally is improved by incorporation.

Cycloate (Ro-Neet) and EPTC (Eptam) should be incorporated immediately after application regardless of whether the liquid or granular formulation is used. Ethofumesate (Nortron), diethatyl (Antor), and pyrazon (Pyramin) may be used preemergence but incorporation usually improves weed control, especially on fine-textured soils or with limited rainfall after application. Incorporation may reduce weed control if heavy rains follow application and incorporation may increase sugarbeet injury compared to surface application. Experience indicates that lack of rainfall is more common than excess rainfall following planting.

An estimate of the efficiency of an incorporating tool can be obtained by operating the tool through flour or lime which has been spread thickly over the soil. A thorough incorporation should cover most of the flour or lime and give uniform mixing through the soil. Several tillage tools have been used successfully for the incorporation of herbicides. Some herbicides require more thorough incorporation than others and the incorporation method should be matched to the herbicide.

Cycloate and EPTC require a thorough incorporation and should be incorporated by one of the following methods or a method which will incorporate similarly.

A tandem disk should be set at a depth of 4 to 6 in. for EPTC or cycloate. Operating speed should be 4 to 6 mph. Tandem disks with disk blades spaced 8 in. or less and disk blade diameter of 20 in. or less have given good herbicides incorporation. Larger disks often give streaked incorporation and poor weed control.
Field cultivators of various types may be used. These should have overlapping sweep shovels with at least three rows of gangs and the operating depth should be 4 to 6 in. for EPTC and cycloate. A harrow should follow the field cultivator. The operating speed necessary to achieve a satisfactory incorporation will vary somewhat depending on the type of field cultivator but the speed usually will be 6 to 8 mph.
Field cultivators with Danish tines plus rolling crumblers behind have given good herbicide incorporation. These tools should be operated 4 in. deep and at 7 to 8 mph or faster. Adequate incorporation with one pass may be possible with these tools if soil conditions are ideal for herbicide incorporation. However, a second incorporation may be good insurance against poor weed control.
Power driven rototiller-type equipment will give adequate incorporation when set to operate at a depth of 2 to 3 in. at the manufacturer's recommended ground speed.
A single incorporation with a power driven rototiller is sufficient for cycloate or EPTC. However, a second tillage at right angles to the initial incorporation should be done if the disc or field cultivator is used. The second incorporation has two purposes:

Most of the herbicide left on the surface after the first incorporation will be mixed into the soil with the second tillage.
The second tillage will give more uniform distribution of the herbicide in the soil which will improve weed control and may reduce crop injury.
Ethofumesate, diethatyl, and pyrazon do not require deep incorporation. A tillage tool operating at a minimum depth of 2 in. will give adequate incorporation if the tool mixes the herbicide uniformly through the soil.

EPTC (Eptam) preplant incorporated in the spring at 2 to 3 lb/acre (2.3 to 3.4 pt/acre) or fall applied at 4 to 4.5 lb/acre (4.5 to 5.25 pt/acre) gives good control of annual grasses and certain broadleaf weeds. EPTC sometimes causes sugarbeet stand reduction and temporary stunting. However, no yield reduction will result if enough sugarbeets remain to obtain an adequate plant population after thinning. EPITC should be used with extreme caution on sugarbeets grown in loam or coarser-textured soils with low organic matter levels because a safe EPTC rate is difficult to predict on such soils.

Cycloate (Ro-Neet) spring applied at 3 to 4 lb/acre (4 to 5.3 pt/acre) or fall applied at 4 lb/acre (5.3 ptlacre) gives weed control similar to EPTC. EPTC tends to give better weed control than cycloate on fine-textured, high organic matter soils or under relatively dry conditions while cycloate gives better control than EPTC when spring rainfall is adequate to excessive. Cycloate causes less sugarbeet injury than EPITC and is thus safer for use on more coarse textured, low organic matter soils.

EPTC (Eptam) plus cycloate (Ro-Neet) has less potential for sugarbeet injury than EPTC alone and is less expensive per acre than cycloate alone. The rate of application of the mixture must be adjusted for soil texture and organic matter. Suggested fall applied rates are: cycloate alone at 4 lb/acre on soils with less than 3% organic matter, EPTC + cycloate at 1 + 3 lb/acre on loam or coarser soils with 3% organic matter, 1.5 to 2.5 lb/acre on loam to clay loam soils with 3 to 4% organic matter, 2 + 2 lb/acre on clay loam soils with 3.5 to 4.5% organic matter, and 2.5 + 2.5 lb/acre on clay or clay loam soils with over 4.5% organic matter. Suggested spring applied rates are: cycloate alone at 3 lb/acre on loam or coarser soils with 3 % or less organic matter, EPTC + cycloate at 1 + 2.5 lb/acre on loam or coarser soils with 3 to 3.5% organic matter, 1.5 + 2.5 lb/acre on loam to clay loam soils with 3.5 to 4.5% organic matter, and 2 + 2 lb/acre on clay loam or finer soils with 4% or more organic matter. These rates may need to be adjusted on certain fields or with certain incorporation tools based on individual experience. EPTC, cycloate, or EPTC + cycloate require immediate incorporation for best weed control.

Pyrazon (Pyramin) spring applied at 3.1 to 7.6 lb/acre (6 to 14.5 pt/acre) controls most broadleaf weeds. Pyrazon has been less effective on soils with more than 5% organic matter. Weed control from pyrazon generally increases as soil organic matter content decreases. Shallow incorporation generally improves weed control from pyrazon. High amounts of rainfall after application improves weed control from pryazon.

Ethofumesate (Nortron) at 3 to 3.75 lb/acre (16 to 20 pt/acre) gives good control of several broadleaf and grassy weeds, is especially effective on redroot pigweed, but is weak on yellow foxtail. Ethofumesate generally gives less sugarbeet injury than EPTC (Eptam) especially on more coarse textured, low organic matter soils. Ethofumesate may be applied preemergence but incorporation generally improved weed control in tests in North Dakota and Minnesota. Preemergence applications of ethofumesate will give good weed control when relatively large amounts of rain follow application. The exact amount of rain needed is not known but field observations indicate that at least I in. of rain is needed to give best results from preemergence ethofumesate. Coarse textured, low organic matter soils require less rain for activation than fine textured, high organic matter soils. Ethofumesate often has a residue the year following use on sugarbeets. Crops most likely to be damaged by ethofumesate residue are wheat, barley, and oats. Moldboard plowing usually eliminates carryover injury. Ethofumesate should be applied in a band to r6duce cost and reduce carryover.

Diethatyl (Antor) spring applied at 4 to 6 lb/acre (8 to 12 pt/acre) gives good to excellent control of redroot pigweed and prostrate pigweed. Diethatyl generally gives less sugarbeet injury than EPTC (Eptam) especially on coarse textured, low organic matter soils. Diethatyl may be applied preemergence but incorporation generally improved weed control in tests in North Dakota and Minnesota. Preemergence diethatyl will give good weed control if adequate rain follows application. Diethatyl needs amounts of rain similar to ethofumesate as discussed in the previous paragraph.

3. Postemergence Herbicides: Clopyralid (Stinger) at 0.09 to 0.25 lb/acre (0.25 to 0.66 pt/acre) postemergence controls several broadleaf weeds and volunteer crops. Clopyralid at 0.09 to 0.19 lb/acre is most effective when applied to common cocklebur, giant ragweed, marshelder, volunteer sunflower, wild sunflower, volunteer alfalfa, and volunteer soybeans up to the six-leaf stage, common ragweed up to the five-leaf stage and wild buckwheat in the three to five-leaf stage before vining begins. Clopyralid at 0. 19 to 0.25 lb/acre is most effective on Canada thistle in the rosette to pre-bud growth stage, but rosette application often gives better control than later application. Clopyralid must be applied to sugarbeets in the two to eight-leaf stage and at least 105 days prior to harvest. Clopyralid. is not registered for application by aircraft.

Clopyralid (Stinger) may have a herbicidally active residual in the soil following postemergence application. Wheat, barley, oats, grasses, corn and sugarbeets have good tolerance to clopyralid and can be planted any time following application. Other crops usually can be planted 12 months after treatment. Extreme conditions where topsoil remained cold or dry for extended periods after application may cause herbicidally active residual to persist for more than 12 months. In this case, small areas of lentils or peas should be planted as bioassay species prior to planting more extensive areas of lentils, peas, safflower, potatoes, alfalfa, sunflowers, edible beans, or soybeans. Time of clopyralid application during a season may influence the time of crop seeding the following year. For example, clopyralid applied June 15 would prevent seeding soybeans or edible beans until June 15 or later the following year.

Desmedipham (Betanex) and desmedipham + phenmedipham (Betamix) are posternergence herbicides for the control of annual broadleaf weeds. Sugarbeet injury occasionally occurs from desmedipham and phenmedipham. Sugarbeets with four true leaves are less susceptible to injury than smaller sugarbeets. Sugarbeets gain additional tolerance as they become larger than the four-leaf stage. Desmedipham at 0.25 to 0.5 lb/acre (1.5 to 3 pt/acre) or desmedipham plus phenmedipham at 0. 12 to 0.25 plus 0. 12 to 0.25 lb/acre (1.5 to 3 pt/acre) may be applied to sugarbeets with less than four leaves. Applications totaling 0.5 lb/acre or less should be followed by a second application in 5 to 7 days if living Weeds are present after 5 days. Split application with reduced rates has reduced sugarbeet injury and increased weed control compared to a single full dose application. Risk of sugarbeet injury is reduced by starting application in late afternoon so cooler temperatures follow application. Risk of injury is increased by factors such as recent flooding, high temperature, and a sudden change from a cool, cloudy environment to a hot, sunny environment. Sugarbeets and weeds in fields treated with a soil applied herbicide will be more susceptible to desmedipham and phenmedipham than untreated plants. Desmedipham and desmedipham plus phenmedipham vary in effectiveness on certain weed species.

Endothall (Herbicide 273) at 0.75 to 1.5 lb/acre (2 to 4 pt/acre) gives good control of wild buckwheat, and smartweed. Sugarbeets would have 4 to 6 leaves before application and should not be treated later than 40 days after emergence. Temperatures should be 60 to 80OF at application. Weed control may be poor when weeds are under even slight drought stress.

Sethoxydim (Poast) at 0.1 to 0.5 lb/acre (0.5 to 2.5 pt/acre) plus an oil additive will control annual grasses and suppress perennial grasses. An oil additive must be used for consistently good grass control. Tank mixing sethoxydim (Poast) plus oil additive with desmedipham, phenmedipham, or endothall often gives less grass control, especially of wild oats. Addition of ammonium sulfate at 2.5 lb/acre or 28% nitrogen solution at 0.5 to I gpa often will increase grass control especially when the water carrier has high levels of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Application rates for several grass species are: 0. 1 lb/acre for wild proso millet; 0.2 lb/acre for green foxtail, yellow foxtail, giant foxtail, barnyardgrass, wooly cupgrass, wild oat, or volunteer corn; 0.28 lb/acre for volunteer cereals; and 0.25 lb/acre plus 0.2 lb/acre on regrowth for quackgrass.

Combinations of postemergence herbicides give more broad spectrum and greater total weed control compared to individual treatments. The risk of sugarbeet injury also increases with combinations so combinations should be used with caution. Ethofumesate (Nortron) in combination with desmedipham and desmedipham + phenmedipham has given improved weed control compared to desmedipham or desmedipham + phenmedipham used alone. These combinations increase the risk of sugarbeet injury. Endothall (H-273) has been used at 0.25 to 0.5 lb/acre in combination with desme4dipham or desmedipham + phenmedipham to give improved control of wild buckwheat compared to desmedipham or desmedipham + phenmedipham alone. Clopyralid plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham have given control of wild buckwheat, eastern black nightshade, common lambsquarters, and Russian thistle superior to clopyralid alone and to desmedipham or desmedipham plus phenmedipham alone.

4. Layby Herbicides: Trifluralin at 0.75 lb/acre (1.5 pt/acre) is cleared for use on sugarbeets when the sugarbeets are 2 to 6 in. tall and well rooted. Exposed beet roots should be covered with soil before application. Emerged weeds are not controlled. Trifluralin may be applied over the tops of the sugarbeets and incorporated with a harrow, rotary hoe, or cultivator adjusted to mix the herbicide in the soil without excessive sugarbeet stand reduction. Use of trifluralin can reduce the emergence of late season weeds which often cause problems in sugarbeets. EPITC (Eptam) at 3 lb/acre (3.4 pt/acre) is cleared as a layby herbicide for sugarbeets and should be applied similarly to trifluralin. However, the greater volatility of EPTC and the greater need for thorough incorporation make EPTC less likely to be effective as a layby herbicide than trifluralin. EPTC also can be applied by metering the herbicide into irrigation water. EPTC should be applied in the first irrigation after the last cultivation of the season.

Table 2. Effectiveness of herbicides on major weeds in sugarbeets.

Grasses
Broadleafs

Barnyard-grass
Foxtails (pigion-grass)
Wild oats
Canada thistle
Cocklebur
Common lambquarters
Eastern blacknight-shade
Kochia
Pigweed, redroot
Russian thistle
Sunflower, volunteer
Wild
buckwheat
Wild
mustard
Herbicide persistence after 12 mo.

Preemergence or preplant incorporated

coycloate (Ro-Neet.)
G
G
F/G
N
P
F/G
F/G
P
F/0
P
N
F/P
P
N

diethatyl (Astor)
F/G
F/G
F/G
p
P
P
F/G
P
G
p
P
P
P
N

EPTC (Eptam)
G
G
F/G
N
P
F
F/G
F
F/G
P
N
F
P
N

ethofumesate (Noftron)
P
F/G
F/G
N
P
P/F
F/G
F/G
G
F/G
P
F/G
F
O

pyrazon (pyramift)
P
p
P
P
P/F
G
a
P/F
G
P/F
P
P/F
G
N

Postemergence

clopyralid (Stinger)
P
N
N
G
G
P/F
F/G
N
P
P/P
G
F/G
p
S

desmedipham (Betanex)
P
P
N
N
PIF
G
G
P/G
G
P
P
F
G
N

desmedipham + phenmedipham
(Betamix)
P
F
N
N
F
G
G
F
F/G
P
P
F/G
G
N

endothall (Herbicide 273)
N
N
N
N
P/F
P
P
P/F
P
F/G
F/G
F
N

ethofamesate + desmedipham
(Nortfou + Betanex)
F
F/0
P
N
F/G
G
G
F/G
0
P/P
P
G
G
N

ethofumesate + desmedipham +
phenmedipham, (Nortron + Betamix)
F
F
P
N
F
G
G
F
G
P/F
P
F/G
G
N

sethoxydim (Proast)
G
G
G
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N

trifluralin (Layby)
G
G
F
N
N
G
N
G
a
N
N
F
N
0


G = Good; F = Fair, P = Poor, N = None; O = Often; S = Seldom; - = No data.

I. Diseases and Their Control:
Sugarbeet yield losses are caused by seedling blights, root rots and foliar diseases. Using appropriate control methods will eliminate or reduce losses from diseases.

The most common seedling pathogens are soilborne fungi. These include Aphanomyces cochlioides, Rhizoctonia solani and several Pythium species. Phoma betae is a seedborne pathogen that affects sugarbeets but has not been a common problem in the region. These diseases attack the seed and/or germinating or recently emerged seedlings. Seedling diseases caused by these fungi produce similar symptoms often called damping off. Two or more pathogens may simultaneously or successively attack seedlings. Disease severity and prevalence varies among regions, between fields and within a field. Seedling disease severity is determined by the availability of disease inoculum, environmental factors and varietal susceptibility.

Aphanomyces cochlioides and Rhizoctonia solani are the primary fungi that cause root rots of economic concern. Phoma betae, several Fusarium species, Pythium aphanidermatum and Erwinia caratovora are of minor importance. Many of these fungi survive for long periods of time in the soil. Symptoms vary from minor lesions to complete destruction of the root by dry or wet rots. Control methods for severe root rot and seedling disease problems include varietal resistance, fumigation crop rotations, seed treatments and fungicide application. Control of root rots is often expensive and temporary in nature. Commercial sugarbeet seed is usually pretreated with one or more protectant fungicides.

Cercospora leafspot caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola is the most serious foliar disease of sugarbeets in the north central United States. Losses of 30 % or greater recoverable sucrose per acre are fairly common under moderate to severe disease conditions. Also, roots of affected plants do not keep well in storage piles either. Many of the currently grown high yielding varieties are susceptible or moderately susceptible to Cercospora. Warm days and nights with high humidity or free water on the crop canopy are most conducive to serious disease outbreaks.

A Cercospora leafspot disease prediction model is available to monitor disease development and plan a fungicide control program. Crop rotation is an important control measure since the disease overwinters on infected beet leaves. A three year rotation is minimal for reducing disease inoculum. Burying beet refuse by tillage helps reduce inoculum survival and dispersal. Varieties vary greatly in Cercospora resistance. The disease develops slowly and is a minor problem on some varieties but can cause total defoliation of others. Triphenyl tin hydroxide fungicides give best Cercospora leaf spot control. Mancozeb and copper fungicides give acceptable Cercospora control especially with less severe disease outbreaks.

Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Erysiphe betae, is the only other serious foliar disease of sugarbeets in the region. The disease is favored by long periods of drought, warm days cool nights and a wide fluctuation in day-night temperatures. Control of powdery mildew with sulfur fungicides is relatively inexpensive and usually very successful. Bayleton also is registered for powdery mildew control, but at rates that make control much more expensive than with sulfur. Crop rotation is not an effective control measure. Little data is available on varietal resistance or tolerance to the disease.

Other foliar diseases that occur in the region are of little if any economic importance. They include Ramularia, Alternaria and Phoma leaf spots. Virus diseases like Western Yellows, Curly Top and others are absent or of no economic importance.

J. Insects and Their Control
The sugarbeet root maggot, Tetanops myopaeformis is the most serious insect of sugarbeets in the region. It is present in all areas of the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota. Infestations are particularly severe on lighter textured soils. Damage is caused by the larval stage of the life cycle of the insect. Crop damage is caused by feeding on the plant root system. Stand loss may be severe if heavy infestations occur in the seedling stage. Plants surviving feeding damage may yield up to 50% less than undamaged fields. Sugarbeet root maggot control generally is good to excellent when granular soil insecticides are applied at planting time. Crop rotation and resistant varieties are not acceptable control alternatives.

Several species of cutworms are the second most important insect problem. Severe stand loss can occur when heavy infestation of cutworms go undetected in fields. Grasshoppers have caused serious stand loss in droughty years in particular. Several species hatch from late May through June. Heavy infestations of later instar stage grasshoppers can rapidly cause sugarbeet stand loss in a field.

Flea beetles, wireworms, root aphids, white grubs and beet webworms are less common sugarbeet pests. However, severe localized infestations of these pests occur. White grubs and wireworm may cause serious stand loss to germinating and emerging beet seedlings. Flea beetles occasionally cause some stand loss if insect populations are high. Root aphids may cause severe yield loss in dry years, especially when cracks form in the soil providing ready access to secondary plant roots the insects feed on. Sugarbeet webworm outbreaks are very infrequent in the region. Leaf feeding may occasionally justify insecticide treatment.

Wireworms, cutworms and white grubs may be controlled by certain soil applied sugarbeet root maggot insecticides. Check product labels for specific recommendations. Severe cutworm outbreaks usually require a postemergence insecticide application for successful control. Flea beetles and webworms can be successfully controlled with foliar insecticide. No acceptable control measures are available for the root aphid. Crop rotation does not give effective control for any of these insects. The key to a successful insect control program in sugarbeets is timely monitoring of insect populations, followed by recommended insecticide applications when insect populations and crop damage justify pesticide use.

K. Harvesting and Storage:
Sugarbeets are harvested in late September and October. A mechanical defoliator is used to remove all the foliage from the beet root prior to lifting. Removal of all foliage is essential to prevent leaf regrowth in storage piles. Heavy frosts prior to defoliation make proper foliage removal from the beets more difficult. Immediately following defoliation, sugarbeet lifter-loader harvesters pull beets from the soil and load them on trucks. The harvesters remove most of the soil from the beets prior to loading them on trucks. Wet soil conditions greatly slow the harvesting operations and result in higher amounts of dirt clinging to the beets. After the trucks are loaded, the sugarbeets are delivered to piling stations or the factory for storage and processing. Sugarbeet harvesting requires at least two specialized expensive pieces of equipment, the defoliator and the harvester, plus trucks that may be used very little except at sugarbeet harvest.

Storage is primarily on flat unpaved piling grounds provided by the processing company in the factory yard or at outside piling stations. Some storage also may be over forced air ventilation/aeration systems or in climate controlled storage buildings. These specialized piling grounds or buildings minimize the loss of sugar caused by storage rots and root respiration.

VI. Yield Potential:
Sugarbeet yields in Minnesota and North Dakota usually average from 13 to 25 tons/acre under dryland conditions depending on the climate. Less than 1% of the present acreage in Minnesota and North Dakota is irrigated. Yields under irrigation may be 15 to 30% greater. Other crops in rotation often yield less following sugarbeets because of soil water depletion by the sugarbeet crop.

Sugarbeet production requires much more management attention than small grain, soybean, or corn production. Specialized equipment is required for sugarbeets that can not be used for other crops in rotation.

VII. Economics of Production and Markets:
Market access may be the greatest obstacle facing farmers who want to begin sugarbeet production in North Dakota, Minnesota or Wisconsin. All present processing facilities are operating at full capacity as farmer- owned cooperatives. If increased acreage becomes available at these factories, the present grower owners have first opportunity to grow these sugarbeets. A new grower must purchase an existing contract or shares owned in the cooperative by a present sugarbeet grower in order to market sugarbeets.

No new processing facilities have been built in the United States since 1975. Estimated cost to build an average size processing facility today is $100 million.

Average economic returns from sugarbeets in the region have been greater than for small grains, corn, dry edible beans and soybeans. Prices paid for sugarbeets also have been more stable than for most other crops. While return per acre from sugarbeets may be good, risk of economic loss is also greater than with most other crops. Average total cost of production in Minnesota and North Dakota in 1989 was from $492 to $557 per acre. Cost of production for a new grower starting sugarbeet production would probably exceed $600 per acre.

No one should attempt to initiate sugarbeet production on their farm without securing a market for his crop and completing an economic feasibility study.

VIII. Information Sources:

Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reports. Volume I to 20. North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota Extension Services.

Sugarbeet Production Guide. 1990 and 1991. North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota Extension Services.

Sugarbeet Insects. Nov. 1988. North Dakota State University Extension Service, Fargo, ND.

Insects Affecting Sugarbeets in North Dakota. Circular E-695. North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Sugarbeet Diseases of the North Central United States. NCR Extension Publication #140, Feb. 1981. North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota Extension Services.

Cercospora Leafspot of Sugarbeets. Revised OCL 1987. North Dakota State University Extension Service. PP-764.

Sugarbeet Powdery Mildew. Dec. 1988. North Dakota State University Extension Service. PP-967.

Seedling and Root Rot Diseases of Sugarbeets. 1989. Ag-FO-3702. University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Fertilizing Sugarbeets. Sept. 1988. SF-714 Revised. North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Compendium of Beet Diseases and Insects. American Phytopathological Society Series. St. Paul, MN.

Pests, Diseases and Disorders of the Sugarbeet. The Beet Sugar Development Foundation. Denver, CO.