Local Sugarbeet Crop Improved From Spring Estimate

Earlier this year, it looked like Northwest sugarbeet growers were in for a challenging year to say the least. Samantha Parrott, Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association, says 90,000 acres had to be replanted this spring, which she worried would greatly impact the yield.

But it appears the crop has rebounded very nicely.

“Sugarbeets are such a resilient crop," Parrott noted. "Our tonnage overall will be down though. So, in 2025, we had eight million tons across the co-op [across Idaho, Oregon and Washington], which is a record, massive crop last year. In 2026, we're estimating, maybe 6.5 million tons. That's just an estimate. We'll kind of see how things shake out.“

Photo: Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association

Water And Weeds Remain A Concern

Parrott noted concerns about water remain; while most places will likely have enough water to get through the season, she said there are pockets that are going to have their irrigation shut off early. And she added many growers are reporting elevated weed and disease pressures.

“We've had pockets of Cercospora leaf spot, which is a fungal disease," Parrott said. "We've seen instances of waterhemp, which is a Roundup resistant weed that is very, very nasty if you get that in your field. And then curly top, which is spread by leafhoppers, remains a problem. So, it's still an uphill battle for growers trying to round out this crop before they get it out of the field."

Harvest Set To Start In The Coming Weeks

But overall, Parrott said she feeling a lot more optimistic now than she did in the spring. She added early harvest is expected to start September 8th in eastern Idaho, and September 21st in the Nampa area.