The dry bean harvest is nearly complete across the Northern Plains, but drought and fewer planted acres have reduced overall production. Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley says yields varied widely, with North Dakota averaging an estimated 13 to 14 bags per acre. “North Dakota is going to be one of the lower yields we’ve seen in the past 10 years as an average,” Karley said. Minnesota yields were generally stronger, particularly around Morris, where some farmers reported strong results. Karley says most beans were harvested under favorable conditions, although some specialty varieties took longer to dry down. “Still a shorter crop overall due to lower acres and drought, but we got the harvest window we needed to at least get it out of the field.”
