Significant Shifts in U.S. Bean Mix

VANCOUVER - Aug 11/06 - SNS -- The USDA's first production estimates of the season for dry edible beans reveal significant shifts in the classes being grown in the United States this year along with some important changes in actual seeded area and yield outlooks.

This year's dry edible bean harvest is expected to total 23.3 million cwt (100 pound units) or 1,056,822 metric tons (MT), down 15% from last year but 31% above two years ago. Actual planted area is now thought to be 3% higher than the June acreage estimates, largely on account of a 40,000 acres increase in North Dakota plantings to 640,000 acres, up 20,000 from last year.

Planted area is now estimated at 1.61 million acres, 3% below last year but up 19% from two years ago. Harvested acreage is forecast at 1.52 million acres, down 3% from last year but 25% above 2004.

The average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,534 pounds per acre, a decrease of 210 pounds from last year but 75 pounds more than two years ago. A large of the part of the decrease stems from North Dakota, where average yields sank from 1,520 pounds last year to a forecast 1,050 pounds this year. Consequently, bean production in the state is expected to drop 27% to a forecast 285,766 MT.

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