Markets Ignore Bigger Edible Bean Forecast

VANCOUVER - Oct 12/07 - SNS -- Dry edible bean yields and seeded area ended up higher than initially expected, resulting in an increase in the forecast size of this year's bean crop compared to the USDA's August estimates.

Production is now forecast at 25.3 million cwt (100 pound units) or 1.146 million metric tons (MT), up from 1.1 last year, but down from the 1.214 million MT produced in 2005. This year's harvest should be about 42,000 MT above the previous five year average crop for the United States, but roughly 37,000 below the previous 10-year average harvest.

Discussing the current situation facing dry edible bean growers in the United States, the USDA said North Dakota's crop conditions were rated 65% good to excellent as of September 16. Harvest began in early September. If realized, both yield, at 1,650 pounds, and production, at 10.9 million cwt, would be record highs.

In Michigan, 80% of the crop was harvested by October 1. Some fields suffered poor pollination and pod set due to drought conditions in July and early August; however, timely rains fell during the remainder of the growing season.

In Idaho, dry conditions in the northern part of the State resulted in lower yields. Harvest was underway in California where yields were expected to be above 2006. Growing conditions in Colorado were hot and dry this summer with irrigation restrictions along the Front Range and South Platte River leading to reduced planted acreage and yields. In Wyoming, conditions were rated 93% fair to good as of September 23 and harvest was proceeding ahead of the 5-year average.

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