Crop Competition Lowers Bean Area

WASHINGTON - Apr 22/07 - SNS -- Competition from other crops has resulted in a steep decline in prospective dry edible bean seeded area in the United States, according to the USDA's Gary Lucier.

Writing in the USDA's Economic Research Service, April 2007 edition of the Vegetables and Melons Outlook, Lucier said, "According to the USDA's Prospective Plantings report, area planted to dry edible beans is expected to decline 8% this spring from last year's 1.63 million acres.

"Because of the widespread positive financial outlook for most crops this year, early prospective dry bean acreage estimates may be subject to more variation than normal this spring due to factors such as weather and changes in relative price relationships among crops.

"Prospective dry bean area was down largely because of the broad price strength for most competing field crops, with the primary driving force coming from field corn demand by a burgeoning ethanol industry.

"With the exception of California, dry bean acreage was expected to decline in all major dry bean States, with area down in 12 of the 18 surveyed States. California dry bean area was projected to rise 4% to 70,000 acres, the third consecutive annual increase since hitting a record-low in 2004. Since planting does not finish until June in some areas, further adjustments to indicated acreage are likely to take place."

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