U.S. Pea And Lentil Acreage Still Rising

WASHINGTON - Dec 16/05 - SNS -- Field pea and lentils seedings will continue increasing in the United States in 006, notes Gary Lucier, of the USDA's Economic Research Service in the December edition of the USDA's Vegetables and Melons Outlook.

However, acreage gains for lentils are not expected to be as large as those for field peas because the market potential for peas is greater than that for lentils, Lucier argues.

"Despite lower market prices, average per-acre returns for dry peas and lentils are expected to exceed those for alternative crops such as spring wheat, resulting in further increases in pea and lentil area. Dry pea seeding in 2006 could rise by a third or more, with expected gains again strongest in the Northern Plains.

"Assuming five-year average yields (2001-05) for both dry peas and lentils (which would improve on yields experienced in 2005), U.S. output of all dry peas and lentils in 2006 would exceed that of all dry edible beans for the first time," he said.

This year's pea and lentil harvest increased 21% in the United States to a record 19.2 million cwt (100 pounds) in 2005. Output of dry peas (excluding Austrian winter peas) increased 21% while lentil production increased 22% -- both reaching record highs. In 2005, except for Austrian winter peas, per-acre yields were down from last year's relatively strong levels for both peas and lentils, especially in the Pacific Northwest where growing conditions were less favorable than a year earlier.

Largely reflecting increased seeded area, harvested area was up 50% for dry peas and 31% for lentils. Acreage losses (unharvested area) declined slightly in 2005 for lentils but increased from 4% a year earlier to 6% this year for dry peas.

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