American farmers produced more peas and lentils in 2023 compared to a year earlier, but far less flax.
The USDA’s final 2023 crop estimates on Friday pegged national flax output this past year at just 75,210 tonnes, down almost one-third (31%) from the 2022 crop of almost 109,000. All the reduction was due to a sharp fall in harvested area, which tumbled 34% year-over-year to 160,000 acres – the lowest since just 146,000 acres were harvested in 1997. Meanwhile, the average yield improved slightly, rising 0.8 bu/acre from 2022 to 18.5 bu.
In contrast to the steep reduction in flax output, 2023 dry pea production climbed to 820,370 tonnes. That’s up from the government’s previous estimate of 779,180 tonnes and represents a 17% increase from the 2022 crop of 703,840. Harvested area, at 941,000 acres, was up 6% on the year, while the average yield increased almost 3 bu/acre to 32 bu/acre.
Lentil production moved just modestly higher, up 2% to 260,450 tonnes, as a much better average yield more than offset sharp declines in seeded and harvested area. Planted area, at 546,000 acres, was down 20% on the year, while harvested area fell 16% at 523,000 acres. However, the average lentil yield increased 185 lbs/acre from 2022 to 1,098 lbs.
The 2023 production levels of other pulse and special crops were mixed compared to the previous year.
American dry bean production came in at 1.08 million tonnes, down 7% on the year, as harvested area and the average yield both declined. Harvested area fell 5% to 1.16 million acres, while the average yield dropped 44 lbs/acre from 2022 to 2,067 lbs.
Sunflower output dipped as well, as total production was reported 19% lower on the year at 1.02 million tonnes. Harvested area was down 21% at 1.27 million acres, but that was partially offset by a higher average yield, up 30 lbs/acre to 1,786 lbs. Oil-type sunflower production dropped 23% from 2022, but non-oil type output increased by the identical amount.
The US chickpea crop, at 214,190 tonnes, jumped 28% from a year earlier as a higher average yield led the way. Harvested area was up 5% to 359,200 acres, but the bigger impact was a 236 lb/acre improvement in the average yield to 1,315 lbs.
At 67,720 tonnes, US mustard production increased 53% to a new record high. Planted and harvested area reached new peaks of 245,000 and 238,100 acres, respectively, while the average yield, at 627 lbs/acre, was up 73 lbs on the year but still the sixth lowest on record.
