The USDA NASS has provided an update on the U.S. sugarbeet crop in its weekly crop progress report (https://www.nass.usda.gov/) from last week. Here’s a sample of what the latest report showed.
North Dakota – This week’s report shows growers have the 2023 sugarbeet crop almost all harvested with 99 percent of the beets lifted. That’s really close to the 97 percent harvested at this time last year and a dozen percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 87 percent.
Colorado – Growers in Colorado are making good progress in their state’s sugarbeet harvest with 86 percent of beets lifted, compared to 75 percent a week ago. And that’s well above the 58 percent harvested at this time a year ago and even ahead of the five-year average of 79 percent.
Wyoming – Wyoming has, according to NASS reports, harvested 81 percent of its beet crop thus far this year. That’s good progress from last week’s 75 percent but behind last year’s 96 percent harvested by this time of year. The five-year average stands at 87 percent.
Michigan - Growers in the state are gaining on it, but are still working through some difficulties to get the crop out of the ground. Thirty-two percent of the beets have been harvested, a 10 percent jump from last week’s 22 percent but well behind last year’s 50 percent harvested at this time of the year. The five-year average is 57 percent.
Minnesota – The 2023 crop has all been harvested according to the USDA NASS. Last week growers had 8 percent of the beets left to harvest. The five-year average for this time of year in Minnesota is 88 percent.
Idaho – Growers in Idaho made significant progress this past week harvesting sugarbeets with 73 percent of the crop in. That’s quite an improvement compared to last week’s 45 percent harvested and almost in line with the five-year average of 77 percent. But it is a little behind last year’s 81 percent harvested at this time of year.
Oregon – Across the border in Oregon, 61 percent of the sugarbeet crop has been harvested, up from last week’s 47 percent. Last year at this time, 84 percent of Oregon’s beets had been harvested with the five-year average at 74 percent.
Montana – Montana got an early winter blast last week but sugarbeet growers still have 61 percent of the crop in, up from last week’s 46 percent. Last year at this time, 67 percent of the beets had been lifted with the five-year average at 66 percent.