U.S. dry edible bean acreage may not fall as much as industry guesses – so says this year’s USDA seeding intentions estimates.
“Growers intend to plant 1.40 million acres in 2008, down 8 percent from last year and 14 percent below 2006. The decrease in planted acres can be mainly attributed to higher prices for competing crops and lack of soil moisture in some States.”
To access the entire report click here. The data tables start on page 18 while the commentary is on page 27

In an article earlier this month form a paper ‘down under’ the writer notes that not only have the rolling droughts in Australia affected the price of canned beans on the shelf (up 4 to 5%) but so has the North American bio-fuel boom. Some feel this represents an opportunity for more locally grown Navy Beans to satisfy that continent’s baked bean demand.
For the full story click here

Coming on the heels of reports from the Western Fair Farm Show in London Ontario that dry bean bids are up again in Ontario – the White Bean price should have read $43.00/bag (100 lb.) (click here for the story) new-crop edible bean prices in southern Manitoba are on the rise as well says a story on farmassist.ca.
“Where will it plateau? We’re not sure at this point,” admitted Peter Klippenstein of Parent Seed Farms Ltd.
Like most other crops, dry edible bean prices have benefited from the battle for acreage in 2008. With corn, wheat and soybean prices still remaining strong, other competing crops have also risen to keep pace.
Earlier this winter, most industry sources expected to see edible bean acres decline by as much as 25%. However, edible bean bids have gradually increased, keeping them as an attractive option for those producers who have grown specialty crops in the past.
Read the story here

A recent interview, carried on farmassist.ca with Jon Ewy, vice-president of the Northarvest Bean Growers Association, suggested dry bean acres would decline. He had no concrete numbers, but suggested strong competition from corn and soybeans will likely mean flat to lower dry bean area in 2008.
“It’s not that dry bean prices are poor”, he said, “it’s just that they are simply not rising as quickly as the competing crops”.
He postulated a 10% acreage decline in North Dakota for Navy and Pinto beans, while acreage in Minnesota could hold steady.