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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Farmers are invited to attend informational meetings on the economics of industrial beet production at five locations across central North Dakota this week.

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.

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

Farmers voiced strong interest in growing beets for industrial purposes during January meetings according to David Ripplinger an NDSU Extension Service bio-products and bio-energy economist and assistant professor. He said “However, they (Farmers) were clear that more information, especially on economics, was needed before making a decision.”

The first meeting will be in Valley City from 9am to 11am., Tuesday, March 18, Eagles Club. Another meeting will be held in Jamestown from 1p to 3p., Tuesday, March 18, Farmers Union headquarters

Here is a list of the other meetings being held this week. 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.