Sugarbeet Crops Face Stress

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/19 - SNS -- Production of sugarbeets for the 2019 crop year is forecast at 33.5 million tons, down 3% from last month but up 1% from last year, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Yield is forecast at 30.0 tons per acre, a decrease of 1.1 tons from the previous forecast and 0.3 ton from last year.

Yields in Nebraska and Wyoming were negatively impacted by the Gering-Fort Laramie irrigation tunnel collapse. Cooler temperatures and a lack of sufficient growing degree days impacted yield potential in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Michigan's sugarbeet yield potential was reduced due to a lack of rain.

Minnesota and North Dakota's sugarbeet growing regions were suffering from either too much rain or not enough. Cercospora Leaf Spot continued to be of concern in both States, but was still under control.

Sugarbeet for Sugar Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2018 and
Forecasted September 1, 2019
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
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               :  Area harvested   :           Yield per acre            :      Production
               :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :         :         :         :           2019            :           :
               :  2018   :  2019   :  2018   :---------------------------:   2018    :   2019
               :         :         :         :  August 1   : September 1 :           :
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               : -- 1,000 acres --    ------------ tons ------------        --- 1,000 tons ---
               :
California 1/ .:    24.6      24.2    44.4        43.1          43.9         1,092       1,062
Colorado ......:    25.5      24.5    32.6        31.3          33.0           831         809
Idaho .........:   163.0     166.0    40.5        40.9          40.2         6,602       6,673
Michigan ......:   147.0     145.0    29.1        29.9          28.1         4,278       4,075
Minnesota .....:   408.0     421.0    25.7        27.5          26.7        10,486      11,241
Montana .......:    42.4      41.5    31.1        33.5          31.5         1,319       1,307
Nebraska ......:    44.1      43.2    31.9        31.6          28.1         1,407       1,214
North Dakota ..:   199.0     209.0    28.8        29.3          28.0         5,731       5,852
Oregon ........:     9.3       9.7    39.4        38.4          39.2           366         380
Washington ....:     1.8       2.0    48.2        46.7          48.2            87          96
Wyoming .......:    30.7      30.6    30.8        29.2          27.4           946         838
               :
United States .: 1,095.4   1,116.7    30.3        31.1          30.0        33,145      33,547
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1/ Relates to year of planting for overwintered beets in southern California.