5% Drop in U.S. Bean Crop Expected

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/08 - SNS -- U.S. dry edible bean production is forecast at 24.2 million cwt for 2008, down 5% from last year and down slightly from 2006, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Planted and harvested area increased from the June Acreage report. Planted area is forecast at 1.40 million acres, a slight increase from the previous forecast but down 8% from 2007. Harvested area is forecast at 1.35 million acres, 1% above the last forecast but 8% below the previous year's harvested acreage. The average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,786 pounds per acre, an increase of 70 pounds from 2007 and 209 pounds above the 2006 yield. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the U.S.

Production is expected to be lower in 11 of the 18 producing States, primarily due to reduced acreage. If realized, North Dakota and Wyoming will have their highest dry bean yields on record, at 1,650 and 2,360 pounds per acre, respectively.

In North Dakota, as of August 3, the dry bean crop was rated 65% good to excellent, compared to 70% from the previous year. Soil moisture supplies in the dry edible bean growing area were mostly adequate and crop development was behind normal due to below normal temperatures. In Michigan, the crop condition was rated 61% good to excellent as of August 3, compared to 42% from the comparable week in 2007. Excessive rains continued after emergence, causing abandonment of some fields and reduced yield projections in others. The crop condition in Minnesota was rated 72% good to excellent as of August 3 with the dry bean growing area experiencing cooler than normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. In Nebraska, the dry bean crop condition was rated 57% good to excellent, compared to last year's 70% rating, while pod setting was at 37%, ahead of last year's 26%, but behind the normal of 40%.

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