USDA Sees 2% More Dry Edible Beans

WASHINGTON - Dec 11/08 - SNS -- This year's dry edible bean harvest in the United States ended up at 25.7 million cwt (100 pound units) or 1.166 million metric tons (MT), up 2% from the October forecast and up 1% from the 25.4 million cwt or 1.151 million MT grown last year, according to the latest USDA crop production estimates.

Planted area ended up at 1.50 million acres, up slightly from the October forecast but down 2% from 2007. Harvested area is forecast at 1.45 million acres, 2% above the October forecast but 2% below the previous year's harvested acreage.

The average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,775 pounds per acre, an increase of 1 pound from October's forecast and 59 pounds above the 2007 yield. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the U.S.

Production is expected to be lower than 2007 in 9 of the 18 producing States, primarily due to reduced acreage. If realized, Nebraska and New York will have their highest dry bean yields on record, at 2,350 and 1,880 pounds per acre, respectively. Production increased from a year ago for all classes except pinto, large chickpeas, blackeye peas, and small limas. Production remained unchanged for small white.

In North Dakota, harvest began mid-September, two weeks behind the five-year average, and was complete by early November. Michigan harvest was behind normal due to continued rains. Harvest was only 31% complete at the end of September, compared with 71% at the same time last year and a 5-year average of 67%. In Minnesota, the crop was 69% harvested as of September 28.

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