SEED AND CANNING PEAS 



Increased acreage for both seed peas and peas for canning in 1928, compared 

 with 1927, was encouraged by better prices offered by seed houses and canners. 

 Yields per acre were not quite as favorable in 1928 as in 1927, but production 

 and total value reflected the increased acreage and better prices. 



The total value of pea production for both seed and canning purposes was 

 $873,000 in 1928 compared with $687,000 revised estimate for 1927 and $1,535,000 

 for the 1926 crop. 



Acreage of seed peas declined from 28,000 acres in 1925 to 14,000 acres in 

 1927 and increased again to 19,000 acres in 1928. The acreage of canning peas 

 increased from 2,800 acres in 1927 to 3,500 acres in 1928. 



Further recovery of seed pea acreage will probably result if the 1929 price 

 contracts to growers are as favorable as in 1928. Practically all seed peas grown 

 in Montana after the canning acreage demand is met, are shipped to other states. 



Three factories are now canning peas in Montana ahd are located at Boze- 

 man. Red Lodge and Stevensville. Montana conditions are favorable for produc- 

 tion of both seed and canning peas, offering a cash crop to irrigated farmers in 

 the higher valleys of south central and western Montana. 



BEANS 



Montana ranks seventh place in national production of edible beans. The 

 bulk of Montana's crop is made up of the Great Northern variety in which the 

 principal competition with Montana comes from Idaho and Wyoming. Average 

 yield per acre and production for the three states in 1928 and 1927 were as fol- 

 lows: 



1928 1927 



Acreage Yield Production Acreage Yield Production 



Montana 43,000 14.5 624,000 32,000 20.0 640,080 



Idaho 82,000 18.0 1,476,000 72,000 23.7 1,706,000 



Wyoming 22,000 16.0 352,000 17,000 18.0 306,000 



Bean yields in all three states were higher in 1927 than in 1928, especially 

 in Montana where as a result of the favorable moisture conditions in the 1927 

 growing season there was much less than the usual spread in yield as between 

 dry land beans and irrigated beans. 



In 1928 acreages in the three states were increased. Yields per acre were 

 lower and production decreased in Montana and Idaho and increased slightly in 

 Wyoming. 



National production of all edible beans aggregated 16,598,000 bushels in 1928 

 compared with 16,181,000 bushels in 1927 and 17,396,000 bushels in 1926. 



Apparent national consumption of beans is indicated at about 18,000,000 

 bushels, having increased steadily during the past few years. For the year 

 ending June 30, 1928, net imports of beans into this country amounted to 1,784,000 

 bushels, the largest since the war. With no appreciable increase in the 1928 do- 

 mestic production and a shortage of beans abroad, prices during the 1928 season 

 have advanced sharply. 



The December 1 average price to producers in the United States was $4.17 

 per bushel compared with $2.88 in 1927. In Montana growers on this date were 

 receiving an average of $3.85 per bushel compared with $3.00 a year ago while 

 in Idaho the price to growers was $3.60 compared with $2.50 a year ago and in 

 Wyoming $3.40 compared with $2.90 a year ago. 



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