STAT Communications Ag Market News

U.S. Lentil Harvest Sinks 41%

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/17 - SNS -- This year's lentil harvest in the United States is expected to total 7.46 million cwt (100 pound units) or 338,247 metric tons (MT), down 41% from last year's record high level, according to the USDA.

Planted area, at 1.11 million acres, is up 19% from a year ago, while harvested acreage, at 1.02 million acres, is up 12% from 2016. If realized, planted and harvested area will be record highs in Montana and the United States. Average yield is expected to be 733 pounds per acre, down 664 pounds from 2016. If realized, North Dakota and the United States' yield will be a record low.

In Montana, lentils were 95% harvested as of August 20. Drought-like conditions persisted throughout much of the growing season with 97% of the topsoil moisture rated very short to short as of September 3. In North Dakota, harvest began in early August and was 66% complete by September 3. As with Montana, the crop was negatively impacted by the drought with average yield at the lowest level since records began in 1998.

Lentil Area Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2016 and Forecasted September 1, 2017
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              :         Area harvested          :         Yield per acre          :           Production
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017      :      2016      :      2017
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              :     ----- 1,000 acres -----           ------- pounds -------            ------ 1,000 cwt -----
              :
Idaho ........:      37.0              35.0           1,550              900               574             315
Montana ......:     505.0             650.0           1,460              700             7,373           4,550
North Dakota .:     297.0             265.0           1,270              700             3,772           1,855
Washington ...:      69.0              67.0           1,400            1,100               966             737
              :
United States :     908.0           1,017.0           1,397              733            12,685           7,457
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