Good Sugar Report From Michigan, All Beet-Growing Regions

Sugarbeets from Getner-Bischer Farms, Michigan. Photo: Ashley Davenport
Sugarbeets from Getner-Bischer Farms, Michigan. Photo: Ashley Davenport

The MAT Sugarbeet Harvest Report has been made possible by Betaseed: where research breeds confidence.

Aside from a little bit of cool, damp weather last week, Michigan’s early sugarbeet harvest is rolling along at the best pace in a few years.

As of Monday’s Crop Progress Report, 58 percent of Michigan’s sugarbeets are rated in good to excellent condition. Rob Gerstenberger, Betaseed sales manager, said Michigan’s quality is at least that.

“No real issues I hear of,” said Gerstenberger. “Sugars are climbing like a normal year, and I’ve heard some reports of sugar as high as 20 percent from one grower which is phenomenal. I think the average is more like 17 percent for fields being harvested. There’s a lot of very nice fields out there.”

Gerstenberger has heard reports of tonnages around 26 tons an acre.

“They’re coming up nicely, and I still think we’re going to hit the target the co-op was talking about—29.5 tons an acre,–or even do a little better than that,” he said.

Nationally, 46 percent of the national sugarbeet crop has been harvested. The Minn-Dak and Grand Forks areas have been struggling with some cercospera, but 2020 harvest has been good for nearly all beet-growing regions.

“Good crop in Idaho from what I’ve heard, and Western Sugar—Colorado and Nebraska—are doing fine,” said Gerstenberger. “The beet crop is good across the country.”

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