USDA Lifts Sugarbeet Estimate

WASHINGTON - Oct 12/06 - SNS -- This year's U.S. sugarbeet harvest is forecast at 32.9 million tons, 2% above the September forecast and 20% above last year's production, according to the USDA's crop production report.

The yield is forecast at 24.5 tons per acre, up 0.4 ton from September and 2.3 tons above 2005. If realized, this would be the highest yield on record for the U.S. Growers expect to harvest 1.34 million acres, unchanged from last month but 8% above last year.

Area expected for harvest is unchanged from the previous forecast in all States, however, expected yields have changed as producers have begun harvesting and have a better indication of actual yields. Of the eight States in which yield forecasts have changed from September, yield is up in six States, including the largest producing State, Minnesota.

Only in Colorado and Wyoming are yield forecasts down from last month. Record yields are forecast for Minnesota, Montana, and North Dakota. Minnesota and North Dakota growers also expect to harvest a record number of acres. At month's end, harvest was underway in the four major producing States and was slightly behind normal in the Red River Valley but slightly ahead of normal in Idaho.

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