Sugarbeet Production Down

WASHINGTON - Sep 11/14 - SNS -- Production of sugarbeets for the 2014 crop year is forecast at 31.5 million tons, down 4% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop forecasts.

Producers expect to harvest 1.15 million acres, up slightly from the previous estimate but down 1% from 2013. Expected yield is forecast at 27.5 tons per acre, a decrease of 0.9 ton from last year.

Sugarbeet Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2013 and Forecasted
September 1, 2014
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
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               :  Area harvested   :           Yield per acre            :      Production
               :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :         :         :         :           2014            :           :
               :  2013   :  2014   :  2013   :---------------------------:   2013    :   2014
               :         :         :         :  August 1   : September 1 :           :
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               :    1, 000 acres      ------------ tons ------------        --- 1,000 tons ---
               :
California 1/ .:    24.3      25.0    44.4        44.6          44.6         1,079       1,115
Colorado ......:    25.7      29.1    33.5        30.6          32.5           861         946
Idaho .........:   174.0     169.0    36.2        36.0          36.0         6,299       6,084
Michigan ......:   153.0     150.0    26.2        26.5          28.0         4,009       4,200
Minnesota .....:   426.0     435.0    26.0        22.0          23.3        11,076      10,136
Montana .......:    42.8      44.5    29.2        32.6          34.2         1,250       1,522
Nebraska ......:    44.2      46.0    29.7        27.0          29.6         1,313       1,362
North Dakota ..:   225.0     211.0    25.3        23.0          24.0         5,693       5,064
Oregon ........:     9.3       6.5    38.4        35.5          35.0           357         228
Wyoming .......:    29.7      30.1    29.5        28.0          28.6           876         861
               :
United States .: 1,154.0   1,146.2    28.4        26.4          27.5        32,813      31,518
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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.