Biggest Edible Bean Crop Since 2002

WASHINGTON - Aug 12/10 - SNS -- This year's dry edible bean harvest in the United States is expected to total 30.7 million cwt (100 pound units) or 1.39 million metric tons (MT) up 21% from last year, according to the latest crop production estimate from the USDA.

If realized, it will be the largest dry edible bean crop since 2002, the last time production pushed past 1.3 million MT. Output during the previous five years averaged 1.16 million MT in the United States, just above the 10-year average of 1.11 million MT.

Planted area is forecast at 1.78 million acres, up 2% from the June Acreage report and 16% above the previous year. Harvested area is forecast at 1.71 million acres, up 2% from the June Acreage report and 17% above the previous year's harvested acreage. The average United States yield is forecast at 1,798 pounds per acre, an increase of 65 pounds from 2009.

Production is forecast to be higher than 2009 in 12 of the 18 producing States, with the five largest producing States, North Dakota, Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Idaho, forecasting higher production than a year ago.

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