Glacier FarmMedia—Farmers in the United States planted considerably more pulse crops in 2024 than originally projected, according to updated acreage data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture released June 28.
Dry edible beans are the largest pulse crop grown in the U.S, with edible bean plantings in the major producing states at 1.359 million acres up from the March estimate of 1.316 million acres, and 15 per cent above what was seeded in 2023.
Lentil seedings are forecast at 836,000 acres, which compares with an earlier estimate of 762,000 acres and up by 53 per cent on the year.
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Dry peas are forecast at 1.033 million acres, up from the March estimate of 974,000 acres and the 966,000 acres seeded in 2023.
Chickpea acres in the U.S. are forecast to increase by 35 per cent on the year, at 502,000 acres. That would be well above the earlier estimate of 429,000 acres and the largest chickpea acreage base since 2019.
Strong pricing for pulses compared to other crop options accounted for the increased seeding, according to recent comments from the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council.
The U.S. data came two days after Statistics Canada released acreage data showing a similar pattern in Canadian pulse seeding in 2024. Area to all the major pulses were up from the March intentions. Total lentil area was forecast at 4.2 million acres, which would be up by 15 per cent on the year. Pea seedings, at 3.2 million acres, were up by five per cent from 2023, while chickpeas were up by 44 per cent at 454,000 acres. Edible beans were forecast to rise by 17 per cent at 371,000 acres.
