Bigger Bean Crop . . . No Excess Supply

VANCOUVER - Aug 12/10 - SNS -- The USDA is looking for dry edible bean production in the United States to rise 21% over last year to 1.39 million metric tons (MT) on higher average yields and a solid increase in seeded area in response to strong markets leading into the seeding period.

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.

Planted acreage for Navy beans increased by 28% from a year ago, while Pinto bean planted area increased 12%. Great Northern variety plantings increased 53% from 2009 and Black bean planted area increased 41%.

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