Modest U.S. Edible Bean Seeding Progress

WASHINGTON - May 6/08 - SNS -- Seeding of this year's dry edible bean crops is just getting underway in most parts of the United States, though excellent progress has been reported planting dry edible bean and chickpea crops in Washington state.

Excellent progress is also reporting getting this year's field pea crops in the ground, with growers in Washington state and North Dakota advancing more than twice as quickly as was the case at this time last year.

           U.S. Dry Edible Bean Seeding Progress
                        (per cent)

                  This   Last   Last   5-Year
                  week   week   Year   Average

Colorado           NA     NA     NA     NA
Michigan           NA     NA     NA     NA
Minnesota           0      0      1      4
Nebraska           NA     NA     NA     NA
North Dakota       NA     NA     NA     NA
Washington         31     16     68     60
Wyoming             0      0      1      0

           U.S. Field Pea Seeding Progress
                        (per cent)

                  This   Last   Last   5-Year
                  week   week   Year   Average

North Dakota       71     33     55     NA
Washington         46     21     78     76

            U.S. Dry Edible Bean Crop Condition
                 (per cent as of May 5)

                  Very                        Excel-
                  poor   Poor   Fair   Good   lent

Colorado           NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
Michigan           NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
Minnesota          NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
Nebraska           NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
North Dakota       NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
Washington          0     19     81      0      0
Wyoming            NA     NA     NA     NA     NA
Source: NASS