Research is underway in Western North Dakota to produce a sugarbeet fit for processing into an alternative fuel. Farmer Steve Knorr says the search is on for high value crops.

The groups working together on the sugarbeet research includes North Dakota State University. The groups hope to create an advanced biofuel using locally grown energy beets, which are sugar-type beets not produced for food.

Currently seven test plots are being utilized in the research. 

Farmer Steve Knorr says the cost of producing sugarbeets is similar to corn.

And what about equipment costs?  Ron Holth of the Green Vision Group says you can estimate spending about 1-thousand dollars per acre in capital costs but your revenue per acre could be higher.