Rising Sugarbeet Numbers

WASHINGTON - Nov 9/07 - SNS -- Sugarbeet production is forecast at 31.6 million tons, 4% above last month but 7% below last year's production of 34.1 million tons, according to the USDA's latest crop report.

Growers expect to harvest 1.24 million acres, unchanged from October but down 5% from last year. The yield is forecast at 25.4 tons per acre, up 0.9 ton from last month but down 0.7 ton from the 2006 record high yield. Although yield is down from last year's record high, it will be the second highest, if realized. Harvested acreage is forecast to be the lowest since 2001.

On September 30, harvest was 15% complete in the four major producing States, 2 points ahead of normal. Harvest was progressing at the normal pace in the Red River Valley but was ahead of schedule in Idaho and Michigan. By October 28, eighty-six% of the crop was harvested. Harvest was complete in North Dakota and nearly complete in Minnesota, but only 77% of the Idaho acreage was harvested. In Michigan, only 38% of the acreage was harvested, 20 points behind normal.

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