For Sept. 17.  Here are the dry bean highlights:

Edible Beans – Harvest has been limited to date with the bulk of the harvest likely to happen in the next 14 days. Reported yields have ranged widely from 16 – 22 cwt/acre, depending on drainage, seasonal rainfall events, and disease. Quality has been excellent, but low seed moisture has delayed harvest in some cases. There is a warning about weeds, that can cause severe staining. 

[Editor’s note: Anecdotal reports suggest seed size is small due to lack of moisture in recent weeks to help the later pods fill properly.]

Syngenta Farm carries a story quoting Peter Johnson, Ontario’s provincial crop specialist saying yields are variable but better than expected. Yields range anywhere from just 8 cwt/acre to as much as 30 cwt. “We’re getting lots of edible bean yields coming in at 18 to 24 (cwt)/acre.”

Prices for the 2009 dry bean crop are beginning to surface says a story from Syngenta Farm.

Cranberries are indicated at 41 cents/lb, White Pea Beans at 34 cents, Blacks at 33 cents, Dark Red Kidneys at 44 cents and Light Red Kidneys at 42 cents.  These prices are historically strong but significantly lower than in the recent past.

Overall the crop is late and still remains under a frost threat.

Click on the link above to read the story

The Ontario Ministry of Ag and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) report edible beans are maturing rapidly with harvest of cranberry and other early maturing types just starting.  White mould has hit what was looking to be an average to very good yielding bean crop over the past two weeks.  Mould is present in most fields with over 50% infection in a few fields. Bacterial blight is also present in many fields but at relatively low levels.

[Editor’s note – implied is a less than trend yield.]

To access the report click here