Canada: Black and pinto bean acres to decline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture anticipates a 4% decrease in bean planting in the U.S. in 2025, with a expected drop in pinto and black beans but an increase in navy and kidney beans. Statistics Canada predicts an 11% reduction in bean planting there. Despite this uncertainty, demand for U.S. beans is expected to be strong, but increased competition from Brazil is possible.

North American farmers intend to plant fewer beans, but the devil is in the details. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates U.S. growers will plant 1.47 million acres of the crop in 2025, down four per cent from the previous year. The agency did not break down acreage by class, but analysts and industry officials have some thoughts on where the slashing will occur. “I would say that is predominantly going to be in black beans and pinto beans, which is of course the largest classes that we grow in the United States,” said Charles Wachsmuth, vice-president of sales & marketing with Chippewa Valley Bean. “Every Indication that I’m hearing along the way is we’ll actually see all other classes up 10 to maybe 30 per cent.” That appears to be in lockstep with the thoughts of Stat Publishing editor Brian Clancey. He is forecasting a 12.5 per cent drop in U.S. pinto bean plantings to 638,700 acres and an 11 per cent decline in blacks to 382,000 acres. Navy bean plantings are ...