Wheat, Sugar Beets Up in North Dakota, Corn, Soybeans Down

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota farmers this year are expected to plant more wheat and sugar beets but less corn and soybeans.

The federal Agriculture Department projects the size of the state's spring wheat crop to be up 1 percent and the durum wheat crop to be up 4 percent from last year. Farmers intend to plant 4 percent more sugar beets.

Soybean acres are expected to drop 2 percent from last year's record, and corn acres are projected to be down 4 percent over the year.

The state's dry edible bean and hay crops also are expected to drop in size. But North Dakota farmers are expected to plant more sunflowers, barley, dry peas, lentils, flaxseed and oats. Canola acres are projected to be unchanged.