beets2gasJamestown (CSi) Another round of North Daktoa meetings have been schedule for farmers to attend informational meetings on the economics of industrial beet production at five locations across central North Dakota this week.

The meetings will provide farmers with economic information and tools to help them decide if they want to grow industrial beets.

A Valley City meeting is set for Tuesday March 18, 2014 from 9-a.m., to 11-a.m., at the Eagles Club.

Also on Tuesday the 18th a Jamestown meeting will be at the North Dakota Farmers Union from 1-p.m. to 3-p.m.

Other meetings

Carrington — 9am to 11 am., Wednesday, March 19, Carrington Research Extension Center.

* Cando — 1p to 3p., Wednesday, March 19, Towner County Extension Service office.

* Langdon — 1p to 3p., Thursday, March 20, Cavalier County Courthouse.

The development of beets as a new industrial crop is a partnership between Green Vision Group based in Fargo and Heartland Renewable Energy based in Muscatine, Iowa. The research component is led by NDSU.

Industrial beets, also called energy beets, are varieties of beets bred for industrial sugars that can be converted to a wide range of bio-fuels and chemicals.

Farmers voiced strong interest in growing beets for industrial purposes during January meetings, but indicated that more information, especially on economics, was needed before making a decision.