Edible Bean Harvest Down 38%
WASHINGTON - Jan 12/12 - SNS -- Dry edible bean production in the United States ended up at 19.8 million cwt or 899,616 metric tons (MT), down 38% from 2010, according to the USDA's final production estimate for 2011 crops.
Planted area is estimated at 1.21 million acres, down 37% from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 1.16 million acres, 37% below the previous year. The average United States yield is estimated at 1,716 pounds per acre, a decrease of 10 pounds from 2010.
Production is lower in 16 of the 18 States in the dry bean program. In the top five producing States (North Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Idaho) estimated production is down from last season.
In North Dakota, the largest producing State, harvest began the second week of September, about two weeks behind last year. Harvest progressed quickly due to favorable weather. Harvest was essentially complete by the second week of October, a week ahead of last year. Michigan's dry bean harvest began on a limited basis the week of August 12 and wrapped up in late-October.
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