Modest Drop in Sugarbeet Seedings

WASHINGTON - Mar 31/10 - SNS -- Area planted to sugarbeets for the 2010 crop year is expected to total 1.17 million acres, down 1% from the previous year, according to the USDA's March seeding intentions report.

Planting intentions decreased from the previous year in California, Colorado, Minnesota, and Nebraska. In Minnesota, the largest sugarbeet-producing State, an 18,000 acre or 4% decrease is anticipated. Planted area in California is expected to total 25,000 acres. If realized, this will establish a new record low for the sixth consecutive year for California.

Intended plantings increased in 6 of the 10 estimating States. The largest increase in acreage is expected in Michigan, where producers intend to plant 9,000 more acres than in 2009.

       Sugarbeets:  Area Planted by State and United States, 2008-2010 1/
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            :                           Area Planted
    State   :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :      2008      :      2009      :    2010 2/     :   2010/2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :    -------------- 1,000 Acres --------------          Percent
            :
CA          :       26.0             25.1             25.0            100
CO          :       33.8             35.1             29.8             85
ID          :      131.0            164.0            169.0            103
MI          :      137.0            138.0            147.0            107
MN          :      440.0            463.0            445.0             96
MT          :       31.7             38.4             42.4            110
NE          :       45.2             53.0             46.0             87
ND          :      208.0            225.0            227.0            101
OR          :        6.7             10.6             11.0            104
WA 3/       :        1.6
WY          :       29.7             31.0             32.0            103
            :
US          :    1,090.7          1,183.2          1,174.2             99
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1/  Relates to year of intended harvest in all States except CA.  In CA, relates
    to year of intended harvest for fall planted beets in central CA and to
    year of planting for overwintered beets in central and southern CA.
2/  Intended plantings in 2010 as indicated by reports from processors.
3/  Estimates discontinued in 2009.

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