Sugar beet production increases
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Production of sugar beets in Idaho is forecast at 6.61 million tons, up 2 percent from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Harvested area in Idaho, at 162,000 acres, is down 4,000 acres from 2017. Yield is expected to be 40.8 tons per acre, up 1.6 tons from 2017.
Sugar beet production also is up in the rest of the Northwest Region.
Oregon production is forecast at 372,000 tons, up 11 percent from 2017. Harvested area, at 9,600 acres, is up 500 acres, while yield is expected to be 38.7 tons per acre, up 2 tons.
Production in Washington is forecast at 89,000 tons, up 2 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 1,800 acres, is unchanged from 2017, while yield is expected to be 49.3 tons per acre, up 1.1 ton.
Alfalfa production up, other hay down
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Based on Oct. 1 conditions, production of alfalfa hay in Idaho is forecast at 5.03 million tons, up 19 percent from last year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Harvested area, at 1.17 million acres, is up 110,000 acres from 2017. Yield is expected to be 4.3 tons per acre, up three-tenths of a ton from 2017.
Production of other hay in Idaho is forecast at 704,000 tons, down 21 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 320,000 acres, is down 50,000 acres from 2017. Yield is expected to be 2.2 tons per acre, down two-tenths of a ton from 2017.
Hay production in the rest of the Northwest Region also showed mixed results.
Oregon alfalfa production is forecast at 1.72 million tons, down 16 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 400,000 acres, is down 20,000 acres, while yield is expected to be 4.3 tons per acre, down six-tenths of a ton from the previous year. Oregon’s other hay production is forecast at 1.6 million tons, up 18 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 640,000 acres, is down 40,000 acres, while yield is expected to be 2.5 tons per acre, up a half-ton.
Washington alfalfa production is forecast at 1.92 million tons, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 370,000 acres, is down 20,000 acres, while yield is expected to be 5.20 tons per acre, unchanged. Other hay production in Washington is forecast at 1.08 million tons, up 14 percent from last year. Harvested area, at 400,000 acres, is up 50,000 acres, while yield is expected to be 2.7 tons per acre, unchanged from the previous year.