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Dry beans, peas and lentil production forecast lower

 

The USDA says pulse crop production in the U.S. is expected slightly lower this year.

“Both the production and the planted area for dry beans and peas and lentils is projected down just a little bit more in 2018.”

USDA economist Travis Minor says total dry bean acreage is forecast seven percent lower. Dry peas are projected down 20 percent, lentils 28 percent lower, and chickpeas up seven percent.

He says dry bean and chick pea exports however are expected to increase.

Michigan dry bean acreage is expected to increase almost 10 percent to 240,000 acres. The Michigan Agri-Business Association says available contract options are driving most of the production swings with black bean acres expected lower, navy beans relatively unchanged and small red bean acres slightly higher.

Michigan is the nation’s second largest producer of dry beans.