U.S. farmers planted fewer lentils and dry peas than they indicated in March, with both crops also posting declines from last year, according to the USDA’s June Acreage report released Tuesday.
American lentil area was estimated at 747,000 acres, down 85,000 acres from March intentions of 832,000 acres and down 30% from 1.072 million in 2025. Area expected to be harvested was forecast at 701,000 acres, down from 949,000 last year.
Montana, the largest lentil-producing state, accounted for most of the decline. Farmers planted 560,000 acres, below the March projection of 620,000 acres and down 270,000 acres from 2025. North Dakota acreage fell to 130,000 acres, compared with the March estimate of 155,000 acres and 185,000 acres last year. Washington acreage was unchanged at 57,000 acres.
Dry pea plantings were estimated at 1.047 million acres, down from the March projection of 1.17 million and down 11% from last year. Harvested area was forecast at 1.001 million acres, compared with 1.063 million last year.
Montana farmers seeded 620,000 acres of dry peas, below March intentions of 710,000 acres and down from 690,000 acres in 2025. North Dakota acreage fell to 320,000 acres, compared with 360,000 acres projected in March and 380,000 acres last year.
Dry edible bean acreage was estimated at 1.161 million acres, down from the March projection of 1.24 million and 1.366 million acres in 2025. Harvested area was forecast at 1.13 million acres, compared with 1.334 million last year.
Total chickpea acreage was estimated at 482,000 acres, below the March forecast of 499,000 acres and down from 536,000 acres in 2025. Harvested area was forecast at 468,200 acres, compared with 520,300 acres last year.
Flaxseed acreage moved sharply higher to 305,000 acres, up from the March estimate of 230,000 acres and 248,000 acres in 2025. North Dakota farmers planted 185,000 acres, up from 170,000 acres last year, while Montana acreage increased to 120,000 acres from 78,000 acres. Total harvested area was forecast at 286,000 acres, compared with 234,000 acres in 2025.
Total sunflower acreage was estimated at 1.348 million acres, below the March projection of 1.39 million but up from 1.288 million last year. Oil-type sunflower plantings increased to 1.224 million acres from 1.189 million in 2025, while non-oil sunflower acreage rose to 124,000 acres from 99,200 acres. Total harvested sunflower area was forecast at 1.301 million acres, compared with 1.246 last year.
