Remaining dry bean acreage has been generally well above normal soil moisture levels. Half of the crop is in good to excellent condition. Yield is forecast at 17 cwt. per acre. Planted acreage of all dry beans , at 320,000 acres, is down 9 percent from 1999. A total of 295,000 acres is expected to be harvested, down 16 percent from last year.
Acreage planted by class is given in the table below.
This is the lowest production since 1993, when production was 21.9 million cwt. Area for harvest on August 1 is estimated at 1.58 million acres, down 16 percent from 1999 and 18 percent below two years ago. As of August 1, the average U.S. yield is forecast at 1,630 pounds per acre, down 140 pounds from last year.