Mixed Progress: Sugarbeet planting is surpassing average levels but behind last year

Sugarbeet planting is moving forward across the country with mixed progress.

The latest USDA report shows 21 percent of the crop is planted, which is just ahead of the five-year average but slightly behind last year’s pace.

USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says Weather conditions continue to shape the pace of progress from state to state.

“We had some wet weather in Michigan. 28 percent planted there, but things opened up during the week, and Michigan actually planted 26 percent of its acreage just in the last week, still behind the five-year average of 35 percent. Meanwhile, a lot of the sugar beets come out of the north-central U.S. and the Red River Valley in that area, and they are kind of waiting for the soils to warm up a little bit, and so, a little bit of a slow start. Two percent planted in Minnesota, with a five-year average of eight percent; three percent planted in North Dakota versus five percent on average.”

In 2023, Minnesota led the nation in the production of sugarbeets with an impressive yield of 12.6 million tons.

Related Stories
With core input inflation still hovering high, growers and retailers should plan pricing and promotions with tighter margins in mind — target early sales, leverage bundle deals, and secure logistics ahead of peak Halloween demand.
The U.S.-China summit raises hopes for stronger exports and reduced barriers, but U.S. ag players should remain strategically cautious until concrete volumes and certifications materialize.
Expect incremental near-term lift for feed grains, proteins, and ethanol as tariff cuts and smoother approvals translate into real orders.
If confirmed, early Chinese buys tighten nearby Gulf/PNW capacity and could bump basis in export-oriented regions.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
Export volumes remain positive year-to-date, but weaker soybean loadings and slowing wheat movement hint at early bottlenecks in global demand or river logistics. Farmers should watch basis levels and freight conditions as export competition heats up.

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.