Lentil Output Leaps Upward

WASHINGTON - Sep 12/24 - SNS -- This years U.S. lentil harvest is expected to reach 9.54 million cwt (100 pound units) or 952,400 metric tons (MT) in those states now included in the NASS data for a 72% from last year in comparable States, according to the latest USDA production forecasts.

Acreage updates were made based on a thorough review of all available data. Planted area, at 936,000 acres, is up 12% from the previous forecast and up 77% from last year in comparable States. Harvested area at 900,000 acres is up 14% from the previous forecast and up 78% from last year in comparable States.

The average yield is expected to be 1,060 pounds per acre, down 38 pounds per acre from last year in comparable States.

In Montana, the largest producing State, 78% of the acreage was harvested by the week ending September 1, comparted to the same week of the previous year of 90%.

Beginning in 2024, estimates for lentils were discontinued in Idaho.

Lentil Area Planted and Harvested - States and United States: 2023 and 2024
[Includes updates to planted and harvested area previously published]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :          Area planted           :         Area harvested
     State    :-------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      2023      :      2024      :      2023      :    2024 1/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                            1,000 acres
              :
Idaho 2/ .....:      18.0              (NA)            17.0              (NA)
Montana ......:     390.0             720.0           373.0             690.0
North Dakota .:      93.0             165.0            89.0             160.0
Washington ...:      45.0              51.0            44.0              50.0
              :
United States :     546.0             936.0           523.0             900.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Forecasted.
2/   Estimates discontinued in 2024.
Lentil Yield, and Production - States and United States: 2023 and September 1, 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :         Yield per acre          :           Production
     State    :-------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      2023      :      2024      :      2023      :      2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :      ------- pounds -------            ------ 1,000 cwt -----
              :
Idaho 1/ .....:     1,090             (NA)              185             (NA)
Montana ......:     1,090            1,020            4,066            7,038
North Dakota .:     1,230            1,250            1,095            2,000
Washington ...:       900            1,000              396              500
              :
United States :     1,098            1,060            5,742            9,538
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA) Not available.
1/   Estimates discontinued in 2024.