Spring Status of Sugar Beets in Idaho

 Well…what would Idaho agriculture in general be without it’s sugar beet crop? In deep…what’s the word…mud and that appears to be appropriate for conditions this year. I talked with Bill Sigrist with the USDA’s Statistics Service. He’s a happy guy and he’s a beet counter. “I am an agricultural statistician…What?...Yeah!...You actually get a pay check for doing that? I know, it’s kinda funny isn’t it?”

 Alrighty then. Since we taxpayers are footing the Bill (no pun intended) let’s hear the report...from Bill. “Let’s be sure I’ve got everything right…make sure you don’t make any mistakes…Right, I’ve made plenty of those in my time, that’s for sure…Not as many as I have….Laughter…I don’t know…Now wait a minute, you just said Oh, Boy…What does that mean?...Sugar beets are all good. Right now we’re saying we intend to have 166,000 acres planted of sugar beets this year for Idaho. Statewide, approximately 18% planted and 3% emerged. Five year average, would be 51% planted and 11% emerged… We’re a little behind… We’re a little behind!

Can we catch up?...Oh Lord!...I think that’s a Yes.