Of the 5 major sugarbeet production areas in the USA, the Southwest (which includes only California, since Arizona ceased sugarbeet production in the early 1980s) is the only one that has experienced a steady decline in production over the last 10 years. Although numerous factors have contributed to this decline, in a large part it has been due to rhizomania, a devastating disease of sugarbeet caused by beet necrotic yellow vein furovirus (BNYVV). The furoviruses and BNYVV are briefly characterized. Rhizomania, including disease symptoms, detection and diagnosis, crop losses and disease control, is outlined. Occurrences of other viruses of sugarbeet in the USA, including beet soil-borne furovirus and beet soilborne mosaic virus, symptom expression and disease development, are briefly reviewed. Recommendations are given for future research on sugarbeet viruses.