For as long as he can remember, Ryan Serr wanted to be a farmer. Ancestors on both sides of his family were farmers, so he didn’t really consider anything else. Ryan started on the family farm while he was in college, and he is the 4th generation on the farm. He farms in Paul, Idaho and sugarbeets, barley and hay are in his crop rotation.
For years Ryan farmed with his dad, Daryl until his untimely passing in 2009 from kidney cancer. Daryl passed away in the spring right before planting. The neighbors rallied around Ryan’s family, and many came with their own equipment to help them plant. Our agricultural community is tight-knit and truly looks out for one another.
In 1997, sugarbeet growers came together to form the Snake River Sugar Company to buy and operate Amalgamated Sugar. Ryan was one of the first shareholders in the cooperative. He was elected to serve on the Amalgamated Sugar Company Board of Directors in December 2021. Ryan has also been very active with the grower’s association and served as the Minidoka County Sugarbeet Growers President.
Farming has been such a great fit for Ryan, and he loves operating his own business. He hopes one of his four kids will come back to the farm. One of the things that Ryan pointed out is that his land is his livelihood. There is a perception that farmers are trying to ruin the environment. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Ryan does everything in his power to ensure his ground is well maintained so that it can be passed on to the next generation.
According to the American Sugar Alliance, over the last two decades our growers have become more sustainable by:
- Decreasing pesticide use by 85% and reducing fuel use by 60%.
- Preserving soil health by practicing conservation tillage and sequestering carbon.
- Employing the latest technology to produce a healthier crop with fewer inputs.
- Increasing efficiency in water use though upgraded irrigation systems.
- Producing 67% more pounds of sugar per acre and 57% more tons of sugarbeets per acre.
Sugarbeet growers and farmers across the country love what they do. They are proud to feed Americans and do it in a sustainable way. Thanks to Ryan and all our agricultural producers!
