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.
Higher fuel costs are raising grain shipping expenses. RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses how energy market disruptions are impacting farmers in new ways as the War in Iran continues.
April 15, 2026 12:09 PM
·
Corn exports remain the clear demand leader.
April 15, 2026 11:01 AM
·
Study looks at how triazine chemistry impacts effectiveness against resistant weeds
April 15, 2026 10:20 AM
·
A late-season freeze in northeast Louisiana has forced farmers to replant thousands of corn acres, adding costs, straining seed supplies, and raising concerns about shifting to soybeans.
April 14, 2026 03:50 PM
·
March 15 of each year is the application deadline for the Pima Cotton Trust, and March 1 of each year is the application deadline for the Wool Trust. The law mandates trust payments by April 15. More information about these programs is available at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.
April 14, 2026 03:45 PM
·
Lane Howard and Adam Andrews with the National Corn Growers Association joined us in the studio discuss EPA’s approval of summer E15 sales, ongoing fuel market concerns, and the industry’s push for a long-term biofuels solution for farmers.
April 14, 2026 01:09 PM
·
