Minnesota sugarbeets

[gil.gullickson]

All,

I came across a report that Minnesota sugarbeet growers took terrible 2013 losses--around $300/acre due to low yields/low prices. I used to work up in MN/Dakotas in the 1980s and 1990s, and at that time, sugarbeets were like growing gold. Very highprofit margins. Just curious to hear from anyone up there what has happened to that industry. 

Gil Gullickson

Crops Technology Editor

Successful Farming

[mvp farms]

We did it to ourselves, a couple high production high price years drove stock prices and rent through the roof and of course land rent hasn't been cheap no matter where you are.  Now we have a bunch of sugar along with storage bins full due to lack of railcars which is hurting us by not being able to deliver product to commercial customers.

[gil.gullickson]

Thanks for the update, MVP Farms. Ouch. Sure hope things turn around for that industry up there

[buckfarmer]

When do you plant sugar beets?

[mvp farms]

I believe April 11th is the insurance planting date here in the RRV.  Our cooperative has a tremendous amout of data on this and it seems that the "sweet spot" is somewhere between April 25th and May 5th on a "normal" year.  This year it looks like we will be lucky to get anything done before May.