STAT Communications Ag Market News

U.S. Lentil Crop Up 12%

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/19 - SNS -- Lentil production in the United States last year reached 8.41 million cwt or just over 381,000 metric tons (MT), up 12% from the previous year, according to the USDA's final crop report for 2018.

Planted area, at 780,000 acres, was down 29% from a year earlier, while harvested acreage, at 718,000 acres, was down 30% from 2017. Despite these declining acres in 2018, both planted and harvested acreage were at the third highest level on record.

Average yield was 1,171 pounds per acre, up 439 pounds from last season's record low. Yield was up from a year earlier in all four Program States: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Washington.

In Montana, plantings began late as spring precipitation persisted and many fields had standing water until the final week of May. The crop was 91% planted by the week ending May 27. By the week ending September 16, the crop was 96% harvested. In North Dakota, by September 23, ninety-seven% of the crop was harvested, ahead of the 5-year average of 87%.

Lentil Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production - States and
United States: 2016-2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :           Area planted           :          Area harvested
     State    :---------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   2016    :   2017   :   2018    :   2016    :   2017   :   2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                             1,000 acres
              :
Idaho ........:    38.0        36.0       35.0        37.0        35.0       34.0
Montana ......:   520.0       730.0      500.0       505.0       670.0      450.0
North Dakota .:   305.0       270.0      185.0       294.0       250.0      175.0
Washington ...:    70.0        68.0       60.0        69.0        67.0       59.0
              :
United States :   933.0     1,104.0      780.0       905.0     1,022.0      718.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :          Yield per acre          :            Production
     State    :---------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   2016    :   2017   :   2018    :   2016    :   2017   :   2018
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   ---------- pounds ----------      --------- 1,000 cwt ---------
              :
Idaho ........:   1,550         900      1,300         574         315        442
Montana ......:   1,460         650      1,080       7,373       4,355      4,860
North Dakota .:   1,320         870      1,370       3,881       2,175      2,398
Washington ...:   1,400         950      1,200         966         637        708
              :
United States :   1,414         732      1,171      12,794       7,482      8,408
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