Dry Edible Bean Production

Released: December 11, 2008 For more information contact: Lindsey Houska or John Hilton at 1-800-835-2612.

Montana's dry edible bean production was estimated at 210,000 cwt, down 24 percent from the 2007 crop. Planted acreage for 2008 is estimated at 15,000 acres, an 18 percent decrease from last year. Harvested area for 2008 is 14,000 acres, a 16 percent decrease from 2007. The yield is forecast at 1,500 pounds per acre, 170 pounds per acre below last year. Pinto bean production for Montana is estimated at 179,000 cwt, which is 7 percent lower than last year. Acres planted, at 9,000, are up 6 percent from 2007, but harvested acres are 5 percent lower at 8,000 acres. The yield is forecast at 2,240 pounds per acre, 40 pounds lower than last year. All chickpea (garbanzo beans) production is forecast at 31,000 cwt for 2008, down from 86,000 cwt produced in 2007. Planted acreage was 6,000 acres, down from 9,800 acres planted in 2007. Harvested area is 6,000 acres, down 2,200 acres from 2007. The yield is forecast at 520 pounds per acre, 530 pounds per acre below 2007. Small chickpea production is forecast at 18,000 cwt for 2008. Planted acreage was 2,000 acres. Harvested area is estimated at 2,000 acres. The yield is forecast at 900 pounds per acre. Large chickpea production is forecast at 13,000 cwt for 2008. Planted acreage was 4,000 acres. Harvested area is estimated at 4,000 acres. The yield is forecast at 320 pounds per acre. U.S. dry edible bean production is forecast at 25.7 million cwt for 2008, up 2 percent from the October forecast and up 1 percent from 2007. Planted area is forecast at 1.50 million acres, up slightly from the October forecast but down 2 percent from 2007. Harvested area is forecast at 1.45 million acres, 2 percent above the October forecast but 2 percent below the previous year's harvested acreage. The average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,775 pounds per acre, an increase of 1 pound from October's forecast and 59 pounds above the 2007 yield. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the U.S. Production is expected to be lower than 2007 in 9 of the 18 producing States, primarily due to reduced acreage. If realized, Nebraska and New York will have their highest dry bean yields on record, at 2,350 and 1,880 pounds per acre, respectively. Production increased from a year ago for all classes except pinto, large chickpeas, blackeye peas, and small limas. Production remained unchanged for small white.

Top of Page