ND bean, potato production down from last year

[December 10, 2011]  FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- The Agriculture Department says production of dry edible beans and potatoes is down in North Dakota this year.

Estimates released Friday peg the state's bean crop at 4.88 million hundredweight, down 58 percent from last year's record high and the lowest production since 1971. The decrease is due to a drop both in acres and in yields. Pintos account for 55 percent of the production.

North Dakota's potato crop is estimated at 18.5 million hundredweight, down 16 percent over the year. Harvested acres and yields both are down.

[Associated Press]

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