Smaller Sugarbeet Harvest in 2013

WASHINGTON - Jan 10/14 - SNS -- Sugarbeet production for 2013 is estimated at 32.8 million tons, up slightly from the November 1 forecast but down 7% from last year, according to the USDA's final production estimates for the 2013 crop.

Growers in the 10 major sugarbeet-producing States planted 1.20 million acres, down 3% from last year. Harvested area, at 1.15 million acres, is down 4% from the previous year. Estimated yield, at 28.5 tons per acre, is up 0.8 ton from the November forecast but 0.8 tons below last year.

Planting began behind schedule due to a cold, wet spring; but a wet and extended fall season helped produce favorable yields.

Sugarbeet Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2011-2013
[Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except California]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :           Area planted            :          Area harvested
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   2011    :   2012    :   2013    :   2011    :   2012    :   2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                              1,000 acres
              :
California 1/ :     25.2        24.5        24.5        25.2        24.4        24.5
Colorado .....:     29.4        31.2        26.8        28.7        29.7        25.7
Idaho ........:    176.0       183.0       175.0       176.0       182.0       174.0
Michigan .....:    153.0       154.0       154.0       153.0       153.0       153.0
Minnesota ....:    479.0       475.0       462.0       469.0       463.0       426.0
Montana ......:     45.0        46.6        43.4        43.0        45.8        42.8
Nebraska .....:     52.3        51.0        46.0        51.6        48.9        44.2
North Dakota .:    231.0       222.0       227.0       225.0       215.0       225.0
Oregon .......:     10.9        11.0         9.4        10.8        11.0         9.3
Wyoming ......:     31.0        31.8        30.0        30.9        31.3        29.7
              :
United States :  1,232.8     1,230.1     1,198.1     1,213.2     1,204.1     1,154.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :          Yield per acre           :            Production
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   2011    :   2012    :   2013    :   2011    :   2012    :   2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :     ----------- tons -----------      --------- 1,000 tons ---------
              :
California 1/ :     46.5        43.7        45.0       1,172       1,066       1,103
Colorado .....:     28.9        31.8        33.5         829         944         861
Idaho ........:     34.4        35.3        36.2       6,054       6,425       6,299
Michigan .....:     24.0        29.0        26.2       3,672       4,437       4,009
Minnesota ....:     19.0        26.5        26.0       8,911      12,270      11,076
Montana ......:     25.9        28.2        29.2       1,114       1,292       1,250
Nebraska .....:     24.9        29.8        29.7       1,285       1,457       1,313
North Dakota .:     20.5        28.0        25.3       4,613       6,020       5,693
Oregon .......:     35.8        38.0        38.4         387         418         357
Wyoming ......:     27.8        28.6        29.5         859         895         876
              :
United States :     23.8        29.3        28.5      28,896      35,224      32,837
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.