Ontario’s edible bean harvest is complete. Yields varied widely, with 12-15 cwt/acre typical. Later maturing bean types did yield 10-20% higher. Quality of harvested beans is fair to good, with seed size and checked seed coats the main issue due to low seed moisture. Some reports of viral diseases, primarily in coloured beans.
Michigan Dry Bean Yields are Down.
Initial dry bean yields reported in Michigan, at 1,450 pounds per acre are down 450 pounds from last year. This when harvest was reported at 80% complete.
Manitoba white beans yielded about 1700 lbs/acre and pinto beans about 1800 lbs/acre.
Dry edible bean yields and seeded area in the U.S.A. ended up higher than initially expected, resulting in an increase in the forecast size of this year’s bean crop says the USDA.
Gary Lucier writing in the October USDA’s Vegetable and Melons outlook expects Bean markets to remain strong for the balance of the marketing year in an effort for Beans to “assure competitiveness…” with the main field crops. However favourable late season weather boosted yields sending total output 4% higher than last year. The National average dry bean yield may be 10% ahead of last year. Favourable weather also decreased the abandoned acres from a normal 7% to 4%. Resulting in harvested area to be above last year in two major producing states. Final production numbers will be released on Dec. 11th