Production of alfalfa hay in California is forecast at 7.07 million tons, slightly above last year's crop. Nationally, alfalfa hay production is estimated at 82.4 million tons, up 4 percent from 1997. Other hay production, at 69.3 million tons, was 5 percent below a year earlier. California sugar beet production is forecast at 2.93 million tons, down 1 percent from the 1997 crop. Acreage for harvest, at 101 thousand, is up 2 percent, while yields are expected to be down 3 percent from last year.
Harvest continues after starting three to four weeks later than normal.
U.S. sugar beet production is forecast at 31.5 million tons, an increase of 5 percent from 1997. Harvested acreage is up 2 percent, and expected yields are up 3 percent from last year. Acreage for harvest, at 255 thousand, was down 2 percent from last year. The yield forecast, at 4.34 tons per acre, was 9 percent below a year earlier. The U.S. corn for grain forecast is 273 million tons, up 4 percent from 1997.