The weekly planting report from the most recent USDA National Agricultural Statistics report (dated April 24 and for the week ending April 23) shows sugarbeet planting has been a mixed bag thus far this spring. A cool, wet spring in some places are to blame for the slow progress being made.
Going west to east across the United States here’s what the report states:
Washington – No report was given.
Oregon - 90 percent of the beets have been planted, up from 56 percent the week prior. That’s a touch below the 94 percent that have been planted a year ago at the same time but above the five-year average of 85 percent.
California – Growers in California plant in the fall and harvest the following year. Growers there planted 18,000 acres last fall.
Idaho - 53 percent of the beets have been planted, up from 40 percent the week before. Last year at this point, 59 percent of the crop was in. The five-year average for this time of year is 72 percent.
Wyoming - Just 3 percent of the sugarbeet crop has been planted thus far. None had been planted the week prior while a year ago at this time 33 percent had been planted. The five-year average for this time of year is 27 percent.
Montana - No report was given.
Colorado – 11 percent of the sugarbeet crop has been planted, up from 0 the week before. That 11 percent, however, is nearly triple what was planted (3 percent) a year ago at this time. The five-year average is 20 percent.
Nebraska – No report was given.
North Dakota – According to the NASS, no planting had taken place by the end of last week. The five-year average is 3 percent.
Minnesota – Minnesota mirrors the report from North Dakota. No beets have been planted as of the report. The five-year average is 8 percent.
Michigan – 49 percent of the beet crop has been planted, up from 39 percent a week ago. A year ago, just 3 percent of the crop was in while the five-year average is 30 percent.