Smaller Than Expected U.S. Pea Area

WASHINGTON - Jul 12/06 - SNS -- Field pea growers in the United States defied expectations this year, only increasing seeded area 10.8% to 895,000 acres, instead of seeding over a million acres, according to the latest USDA crop report.

Discussing the numbers, the USDA said it expects harvested area to come in at 856,600 acres, is 12% above a year ago.

Area planted in North Dakota, at 580,000 acres, is 7% above a year ago. This is 40,000 acres above the previous record high set last year. Planting started in mid-April but was delayed due to a late winter storm and wet fields at month's end. Dry conditions during May enabled farmers to plant at a normal pace.

Montana dry edible pea growers planted 190,000 acres, up 41% from a year ago. More growers are using dry peas for green manure, high quality forage and hay, or as a seed crop. This combined with government Loan Deficiency Payments has contributed to the increased planted acreage. Growers plan to harvest 175,000 of these acres, 43% above a year ago.

Washington farmers planted dry edible peas on 70,000 acres, down 12% from 2005. Excessive moisture and storms delayed planting, and increased plantings of garbanzo beans have lowered the overall area planted in dry edible peas. Growers plan to harvest 69,000 acres, down 12% from last year.

Idaho dry edible pea growers planted 45,000 acres in 2005, down 6% from last year. Idaho growers plan to harvest 43,000 acres, down 7% from the previous year. Oregon growers planted 10,000 acres of dry edible peas which is twice the amount planted a year ago. Harvested acreage, at 9,600 acres, is up 96% from 2005.

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