58% Of U.S. Bean Crop Planted

WASHINGTON - Jun 2/21 - SNS -- Seeding of this year's dry edible bean crops is advancing at a faster pace than last year, judging from state level reports.

Overall progress is 58% planted, up from 42% last week and ahead of both last year and the recent five year average.

Timely rains allowed farmers in Michigan to enter fields, with 7% of the state's bean crop now in the ground. Seeding is also advancing at a rapid rate in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Soil moisture conditions across the growing area remain mixed, with parts of North Dakota continuing to suffer from drought like conditions, though some relief was received in Montana and from scattered heavy rain and snow during the past week.

North Dakota topsoil moisture supplies are currently rated 44% very short, 29% short, 25% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies are rated 50% very short, 26% short, 23% adequate, and 1% surplus.

               USA - Dry Edible Bean Seeded Area
                               (per cent)
Seeded Area       This Week  Last Week  Last Year    Average
Colorado                 23         12         27         17
Idaho                    89         75         84         74
Michigan                  7          1         NA         NA
Minnesota                92         82         67         68
Montana                  78         64         89         85
Nebraska                 19         11         40         13
North Dakota             76         46         43         66
Washington              100        100        100        100
Wyoming                  40         30         32         30
United States            58         42         43         47
SOURCE: State crop reports. This includes chickpeas