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Sugar beet production, yields forecasts could mean better bottom line
By Lorraine Cavener, Magic Valley
October 22, 2001
 
PAUL -- Statistics don't show the whole picture.
      Idaho's latest estimates show that 195,000 acres have been harvested, said Jodie Sprague, agricultural statistician for the Idaho Ag Statistic Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
      "Estimated yield should be about 25.5 tons per acre," Sprague said.
      Taking the 195,000 acres harvested times the 25.5 tons per acre equals 4.97 million tons estimated production this year, she said.
      Compared to last year, yield is down 13 percent.
      The next estimate, which will be out Nov. 9, will reflect payment-in-kind program numbers.
      National Agricultural Statistical Service numbers -- showing that this year's pre-PIK sugar beet yield is down 13 percent and production is down 11 percent -- just hints at the whole story, sugar company officials said.
      "Last year we had a huge crop," said John Schorr, ag manager at Amalgamated Sugar Co.'s Paul facility.
      Compared to last year's huge crop, this year's crop is more of an average crop, Schorr said.
      Perfect growing weather prevailed throughout the entire growing season last year, he added, and this year weather was far from perfect.
      "We had a tough spring," Schorr said.
      Spring included winds that caused growers to have to replant once or twice.
      Winds last fall also caused many fields to be damaged by Oust sprayed by Bureau of Land Management to control weeds on fire-burned ground.
      The Idaho Power buyback is another factor of lower production in the 2001 crop, said Leonard Kerbs, ag manager for the Twin Falls Amalgamated facility.
      While comparing this year's average crop to last year's surplus, Kerbs, ever optimistic, does not see lower yield and production statistics as negative factors.
      He can see the possibility of a better bottom line, he said.
      "Maybe prices will stay stable or even come up," Kerbs said. "There is a better balance between supply and demand."
      For the past couple of years both processors and producers have been hurting financially, he said.
      "Hopefully 2001 will show a better return on investment," Kerbs said.
      The next few months will tell the tale, he added.
      "Our bottom line is looking at our sales price in the market," Kerbs said. "Hopefully we will see good things happening each month."