07/17/08 Sugarbeet acreage down; Idaho corn, wheat up

Idaho sugarbeet acreage this year is estimated at 131 thousand acres, a 22 percent reduction from last year and the lowest acreage figure since 1977. Figures released by the National Ag Statistics Service show barley acreage is also down in Idaho, 540 thousand acres this year, 30 thousand fewer acres than 2007. Dry bean planted acres including garbanzo beans grown in North Idaho are down 17 percent with an estimated 73 thousand acres for harvest this year. Alfalfa hay harvested this year on 1.13 million acres is down six percent from last year. While those crops have dropped off, other Idaho acreage is up and corn leads the way with 330 thousand acres, a 20 thousand acre increase over last year's record high. Spring wheat seedings are up 15 percent from a year ago to 540 thousand acres. Winter wheat seedings jumped 16 percent to 870 thousand acres. Prices received by Idaho farmers in June showed increases from May for alfalfa hay, all barley except feed barley, dry beans, potatoes, all wheat, all cattle and milk. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott