Sugar beet yields

Outside of New Plymouth Idaho, in Payette County, a the harvester is hard at work digging this year’s sugar beet crop. Not since two decades ago have growing conditions been this tough.

Preliminary numbers from the Associations show a very mixed crop, but a crop that farmers can depend on this year. 

Beet Producer Galen Lee: "The crops adapt and do well, Like I say, sugar beets are a little bit more tolerant to drier conditions, they still need water obviously, but more tolerant they'll weather the storm and get through it. I think the price will be about the same as it has been, is what they are projecting. If your tonnage is still good, the sugars are up there, the check should be about the same. We have a good stable sugar program and it keeps the price at a stable place," said Lee. 

Idaho Farmers planted almost 180-thousand acres of sugar beets this year they hope to harvest least year 40.5 tons per acre. A lofty goal but they’ll take the stable crop…in a challenging year.