Dr. Hans Schneider Researches Sugar Beets at EARC

Dr. Hans Schneider received his doctorate degree in plant pathology from Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands, which is known world-wide for its agricultural educational and research programs.

After several years of working in multiple areas of plant diseases and protection research, Dr. Schneider was offered a position at the Institute of sugar beet Research (IRS) in the Netherlands to develop an integrated control strategy to combat Rhizoctonia solani. During his thirteen years at IRS, Schneider set up plant disease diagnostics and a molecular laboratory for identification of plant pathogens. He also worked on all diseases and pests of sugar beets grown in the Netherlands and as a field inspector for Monsanto Vegetable Seeds. After doing so, Schneider decided to return (in part) to where his expertise lies: diseases and pests of sugar beets.

In July of 2013, Dr. Schneider accepted the position of both Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Superintendent of EARC, in Sidney, Montana. 

Schneider has recently set up a plant pathology laboratory and an integrated disease management program for diseases and pests in sugar beets, pulse crops, wheat and other crops important to the region. He has a particular interest in disease suppressive soils. His assignment is to develop integrated control strategies for pests and diseases important in N.E. Montana with a special emphasis on sugar beets.

Schneider states, "At the moment we are re-modeling lab space to create a plant pathology laboratory. Lab equipment has been ordered and we expect to hire a research associate to work in the lab soon. We can study plant pathogens important in sugar beet cultivation in the lab and the greenhouse. The lab is also meant to support the sugar industry and sugar beet farmers for disease diagnostics. EARC will start up a survey with the AG staff to the occurrence of sugar beet diseases and pests occurring in Sidney Sugars' growing area. Diseases and pests are known to occur, but their abundance, severity and impact on sugar beet production is not well known. Problems which need to be addressed are soil born fungi such as Rhizoctonia root and crown rot, Aphanomyces and Fusarium yellows. Data from the Red River Valley and Europe show that the foliar fungus Cercopora develops quick resistance to fungicides. The occurrence of fungicide resistance Cercospora isolates is unknown for the area.  A schedule of alternating fungicides might have to be developed. Beet cyst nematodes are known to occur in the region, but their abundance and impact on sugar beet production is unclear. Another problem may be Rhizomania (AKA crazy root or root madness); a virus transmitted by a soil-born fungus. All sugar beet varieties grown in the area are resistant to the virus, but resistance breaking isolates have been reported from the RRV and the EU. Again, the situation is unclear for the region and needs to be addressed."