U.S. Pulse Seeding Pace Quickens

VANCOUVER - May 20/13 - SNS -- Seeding of this year's pulse crops accelerated in some of the key producing areas of the United States during the past week, but the overall pace remains behind both last year and the ecent five-year average.

For dry edible beans, North Dakota is the most important producing state; while for peas and lentils Montana and North Dakota have emerged as the two most important producing regions in the United States.

Farmers in North Dakota finally started planting this year's dry edible bean crops. As of May 19, 2% of the intended area is now in the ground, compared to 54% at this time last year and the recent five-year average of 20%. Dry edible pea planting was 52% complete, down from 97% at this time last year and the recent average of 74%. Sunflower planting was 9% complete, behind 33% last year and the 15% average.

Warm, dry weather conditions across the state early last week allowed producers to make good planting progress, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota Field Office. "However, starting Thursday and lasting through the weekend, most of the state received significant rainfall amounts which halted fieldwork activities."

Crop reporters in Montana did not comment on dry edible bean and chickpea planting progress, but seeding of this year's pea and lentil crops is almost complete. So far, 91% of the pea crop has been planted and 11% has emerged, compared to 99% planted at this time last year and the recent average of 86%. Lentil seeding is now 89% complete with 5% of the crop emerged, down from 100% seeded last year and the recent average of 83%.