Sugarbeet Harvest Down 12%

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/13 - SNS -- Production of sugarbeets for the 2013 crop year is forecast at 30.9 million tons, down 12% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Producers expect to harvest 1.18 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 2% from 2012. Expected yield is forecast at 26.1 tons per acre, a decrease of 3.2 tons from last year.

Sugarbeet Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2012 and Forecasted
September 1, 2013
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
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               :  Area harvested   :           Yield per acre            :      Production
               :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :         :         :         :           2013            :           :
               :  2012   :  2013   :  2012   :---------------------------:   2012    :   2013
               :         :         :         :  August 1   : September 1 :           :
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               :    1, 000 acres      ------------ tons ------------        --- 1,000 tons ---
               :
California 1/ .:    24.5      24.5    44.0        45.0          45.0         1,078       1,103
Colorado ......:    29.7      26.3    31.8        31.2          31.8           944         836
Idaho .........:   182.0     174.0    35.3        32.7          33.8         6,425       5,881
Michigan ......:   153.0     150.0    29.0        25.0          25.0         4,437       3,750
Minnesota .....:   463.0     460.0    26.5        22.0          23.0        12,270      10,580
Montana .......:    45.8      42.9    28.2        28.1          28.7         1,292       1,231
Nebraska ......:    48.9      44.0    29.8        28.0          29.5         1,457       1,298
North Dakota ..:   215.0     223.0    28.0        22.0          22.5         6,020       5,018
Oregon ........:    11.0       9.3    38.0        36.2          35.3           418         328
Wyoming .......:    31.3      29.8    28.6        29.0          29.8           895         888
               :
United States .: 1,204.2   1,183.8    29.3        25.4          26.1        35,236      30,913
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1/ Relates to year of intended harvest for fall planted beets in central California and to year
   of planting for overwintered beets in central and southern California.