STAT Communications Ag Market News

Drought Slashed Pea Yields

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/17 - SNS -- This year's field pea harvest in the United States is expected to total 7.46 million cwt (100 pound units) or 697,043 metric tons (MT), down 45% from last year, according to the USDA.

Planted area, at 1.15 million acres, and harvested area, at 1.11 million acres, decreased by 17% and 16%, respectively. Average United States yield is expected to be 1,383 pounds per acre, down 703 pounds from 2016. If realized, yield will be at the lowest level since 1996. High temperatures and limited rainfall in the major producing areas were reported.

In Montana, the crop was 98% harvested by September 3, with 97% of the State's soil moisture levels rated 97% very short to short. Many growers reported low yields based on the drought-like conditions. In North Dakota, harvest began in mid-July and was 92% complete by September 3. As of July 30, the crop was rated 87% in very poor to fair condition due to the drought.

Dry Edible Pea Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2016 and Forecasted September 1, 2017
[Excludes both wrinkled seed peas and Austrian winter peas]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :         Area harvested          :         Yield per acre          :           Production
      State     :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :    ------ 1,000 acres -----           ------- pounds -------            ------ 1,000 cwt ------
                :
Idaho ..........:       28.0             24.0           2,500            1,700               700              408
Montana ........:      580.0            500.0           1,950            1,050            11,310            5,250
Nebraska .......:       52.0             56.0           1,340            1,300               697              728
North Dakota ...:      545.0            425.0           2,250            1,650            12,263            7,013
Oregon .........:        5.8              9.4           2,600            2,100               151              197
South Dakota ...:       30.0             38.0           1,600            1,400               480              532
Washington .....:       89.0             59.0           2,400            2,100             2,136            1,239
                :
United States ..:    1,329.8          1,111.4           2,086            1,383            27,737           15,367
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

United States Austrian winter pea production is forecast at 139,000 cwt or 29,000 MT, down 71% from last year. If realized, production will be at the lowest level since 2008.

Planted area is estimated at 29,000 acres, down 24% from a year ago. Area harvested is expected to total 16,000 acres, down 43% from 2016. United States yield, at 869 pounds per acre, is down 835 pounds from a year ago. In both Idaho and Montana, producers reported record low yields, primarily caused by drought-like conditions.

Austrian Winter Pea Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2016 and Forecasted
September 1, 2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :         Area harvested          :         Yield per acre          :           Production
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      ---- 1,000 acres ----            ------- pounds -------             ----- 1,000 cwt ----
              :
Idaho ........:      17.0              4.0            1,800              900             306               36
Montana ......:       7.0              9.0            1,300              480              91               43
Oregon .......:       4.0              3.0            2,000            2,000              80               60
              :
United States :      28.0             16.0            1,704              869             477              139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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