date:Apr 23, 2014
Sugar beet planted area is forecast to increase from 906,000 hectares in 2013 to 930,000 hectares in 2014. Sugar processors demand for sugar beets could rise due to possible increases in the price of imported cane sugar (as a result of the weaker ruble). This, coupled with increasing domestic beet prices, is expected to stimulate farmers to increase sown area.
Any area expansion, however, will be limited by strong competition for land with grains and oilseeds, especially in high-yielding region