Idaho Beet Production Up

Idaho's 2009 sugarbeet production is forecast to be 5.56 million tons, unchanged from the August forecast, but up 54 percent from a year ago. Yield of 34.1 tons per acre is up from 2008's 31.2 tons per acre. Harvested acreage is expected to total 163,000 acres, up 47,000 acres from 2008. United States' sugarbeet production for 2009 is forecast at 31.3 million tons, 4 percent below the August forecast but up 17 percent from last year's production of 26.8 million tons. Growers expect to harvest 1.16 million acres, up 15 percent from last year. The yield is forecast at 27.0 tons per acre, up 0.3 tons from 2008.