Lower Pulse Acreage Planted

This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Planted acreage for pulse crops are projected to be down this year. USDA research economist Wilma Davis goes over some of the factors behind the lower forecast.

Davis… “ Lentils were down by thirty percent, dry beans were down by fifteen percent. And keep in mind that we're talking planted acreage, and this is not final production. So the decline was broad-based, fifty-four thousand acres for chickpeas, a hundred and twenty-six thousand acres for dry peas. Dry beans was down two hundred and five thousand acres, and then lentils were down three hundred and twenty-five thousand acres. Why did producers plant fewer pulse acres? So the short version is recent supplies, weaker exports, and lower grower prices provide the context for that acreage adjustment.”

Davis said across the board, cuts to Montana and other states played a significant factor.

Davis… “ For chickpeas, it's mostly grown in Montana, followed by Washington, Idaho, and North Dakota. And so the largest cuts were in Montana, Washington, and Idaho for chickpeas. And then for lentils, Montana again and North Dakota, similar to dry peas.”

Davis added that pulse acreage is concentrated in the Northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest.