Bean Market Classes Grown

Pinto bean was the most commonly grown dry bean class in 1998, planted on 51% of Northarvest respondents' acres. Navy bean was the second most commonly grown dry bean class in 1998, planted on 17% of Northarvest respondents' acres, followed by black bean, planted on 15%, and kidney bean, planted on 12% of Northarvest respondents' acres (Table 4).

Kidney beans were planted on 46% of Minnesota respondents' acres, pinto beans on 22%, navy beans on 16%, and black beans on 7%. Pinto beans were planted on 61% of North Dakota respondents' acres, navy beans on 17%, black beans on 17% and kidney beans on only a few acres. The percentage of Minnesota respondents' acres planted to kidney beans doubled in 1998 when they were the leading class in Minnesota, compared to 1997 when pinto beans were the leading class, followed by navy beans, with kidney beans third. There also was a dramatic increase in black beans grown in 1998 in both states, a reduction in pinto beans grown in Minnesota, and a significant reduction in navy beans grown in both states (Table 4).

Table 4: Market class of dry beans grown by respondents in Minnesota and North Dakota in 1998