Mexican crop troubles benefit Canadian bean growers

Growers in Canada and the United States planted more black and pinto beans and fewer navy beans in response to Mexico’s production hardships, say industry officials. Orion Roy-Wright, a trader with ADM Edible Beans, told the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) that producers in those two countries increased black bean plantings by 15 to 20 per cent. “Everyone sees demand for black beans in Mexico, and farmers have done well off it so far,” he said. Mexico has had three straight crop failures due to poor rainfall during the spring/summer crop season, which runs from July through December. Some analysts are forecasting a further contraction of Mexican bean acres in 2024 due to a lack of financing, poor seed availability and another drought year. Roy-Wright believes pinto plantings in Canada and the U.S. are also up about 15 per cent due to Mexico’s crop problems. However, the same cannot be said for another major class of beans. “We see navy beans differently,” he said in the GPC ...