WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture in its March 31 Prospective Plantings report said growers intend to plant 1,182,100 acres of sugar beets in 2015, up 20,500 acres, or 2%, from 1,161,600 acres planted in 2014.
“Intended plantings are above the previous year in seven of the 10 estimating states,” the U.S.D.A. said.
Sugar beet planted area was forecast down slightly from 2014 in top-producing Minnesota but up 4% in No. 2 North Dakota. Plantings were forecast up 2% in Michigan, up 15% in Nebraska, up 8% in Colorado, up 4% in Wyoming, up 3% in California and up 54% in Oregon. Plantings were forecast down 1% in Idaho and down 5% in Montana.