STAT Communications Ag Market News

Sugarbeet Yields Sink 12%

WASHINGTON - Nov 8/19 - SNS -- Production of sugarbeets for the 2019 crop year is forecast at 29.5 million tons, down 12% from last month and down 11% from last year, according to the USDA's latest crop report.

Sugarbeet producers expect to harvest 971,200 acres, down 13% from the previous forecast and down 11% from 2018. Yield is forecast at 30.4 tons per acre, an increase of 0.3 ton from the previous forecast and an increase of 0.1 ton from last year.

Idaho's harvest progress was 88% complete as of the week ending November 3, ahead of the 5-year average pace of 83%. Growers were waiting for warmer temperatures before continuing to harvest.

Michigan's harvest progress was slowed by rainfall and excessive moisture in the fields. Harvest progress in Minnesota and North Dakota was delayed by excessive rainfall. This combined with freezing temperatures has resulted in some fields being abandoned. Several hundred acres remain to be harvested in Wyoming.

Sugarbeet Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2018 and
Forecasted November 1, 2019
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  Area harvested   :          Yield per acre           :    Production
              :---------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State    :         :         :         :          2019           :         :
              :  2018   :  2019   :  2018   :-------------------------:  2018   :  2019
              :         :         :         : October 1  : November 1 :         :
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :    1,000 acres       ------------ tons -----------      -- 1,000 tons --
              :
California 1/ :    24.6     24.2     44.4        43.9         43.9       1,092     1,062
Colorado .....:    25.5     24.5     32.6        33.0         33.3         831       816
Idaho ........:   163.0    166.0     40.5        40.2         40.0       6,602     6,640
Michigan .....:   147.0    145.0     29.1        27.5         27.9       4,278     4,046
Minnesota ....:   408.0    335.0     25.7        27.0         26.5      10,486     8,878
Montana ......:    42.4     41.6     31.1        31.3         31.8       1,319     1,323
Nebraska .....:    44.1     43.6     31.9        27.6         27.8       1,407     1,212
North Dakota .:   199.0    149.0     28.8        28.3         28.1       5,731     4,187
Oregon .......:     9.3      9.7     39.4        39.3         39.3         366       381
Washington ...:     1.8      2.0     48.2        48.3         48.2          87        96
Wyoming ......:    30.7     30.6     30.8        27.4         28.0         946       857
              :
United States : 1,095.4    971.2     30.3        30.1         30.4      33,145    29,498
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Relates to year of planting for overwintered beets in southern California.

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