The Bean Commission News is a monthly newsletter for growers.

PRAB-A Joint Effort

The Production Research Advisory Board (PRAB) was created in 1974, under the Michigan Bean Commission Law, as an effort of the dry bean industry in Michigan to increase its yields. The bean industry recognizes that high per-acre yields are the key to a healthy, economic bean industry.
PRAB is unique to the Michigan Bean Industry, as no other U.S. Dry Bean state or area has someone on staff, paid for equally by growers and shippers, to do research and help both growers and shippers with production problems.
Michigan bean growers and Michigan first receivers (Shippers) each contribute 1 cent per bag to a fund which is administered by the Michigan Bean Commission, in cooperation with the Michigan Bean Shippers Association. (The one cent from growers is included in ten cents per bag check-off the Commission receives.) The PRAB Board is appointed equally by growers and shippers to aid in administration of funding of the research and give direction for that research.
Variety trials are conducted every year to analyze the qualities of various varieties of beans in different counties. The results are compiled annually to establish an historical base for these different varieties. Acceptance or endorsements of a new dry bean variety is based on (a) plant yield; (b) plant growth characteristics and maturity; (c) area adaptability; (d) agronomic and disease characteristics; (e) seed size and color; (f) canning quality. PRAB communicates across the various grower, university and industry organizations to insure specific criterion are applied to varieties released and grown in Michigan.
PRAB has engaged in contract research for several companies interested in selling their products to Michigan bean growers. Commercial companies working on problems such as white mold, rust, root rot, anthracnose, bacterial blight, insect control, inoculants, seed treatments, foliar fertilizer and herbicides have contracted with PRAB to conduct research on how well their products perform. Cooperating with the chemical companies is very important as labels on major crops receive a higher priority than minor crops. Dry beans as a minor crop, requires local testing in Michigan which PRAB provides.
The research director of PRAB (Greg Varner) gives presentations at field days, elevator meetings, extension meetings and other dry bean meetings on all areas of dry bean production management. The research director is called out on different dry bean fields to assist in finding the main problem affecting normal plant growth. Problems such as insects, diseases, fertility and herbicide injury occur every year in Michigan.

Varner's Voice

Michigan dry beans have been rated fair for the 2007 dry growing season. The weekly crop report on the crop condition for Michigan by the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service has fair as the highest percentage. The fair percentage says we have a below average dry bean crop in Michigan. Our five year average yield for Michigan is around 1700-1800 pounds per acre. This year, as of July 30, dry bean yields don't look like they will hit this five year average and could be 1600 or less. Some key rains in early August could turn many dry beans around and give respectable yields, but the days for recovery are getting slimmer. 80% of the dry beans were planted June 6-12 and they have been blooming for week or more. The early planted beans in May have been blooming for more than two weeks and the size of the plant growth is small. These beans will be our first indicators for lower dry bean yields. The Michigan dry bean growing area received one good overall rain on June 2-5. We measured .4 to 1.5 inches and this moisture allowed us to plant the beans in a timely fashion. Every rain since has been spotty where some get an inch, a few more get two or three tenths and about 50% of the area gets nothing. The same areas getting nothing have become very dry. Last half of June and first 10 days of July were hot. I started to get concerned in late June when we didn't receive any more rain the last three weeks. The lawns turned brown and generally we associate brown lawns with July. July rains have been sporadic at best and most of the rains have consisted of very narrow small cells a few miles wide. Dry bean plant growth in quite a few heavy textured fields was hampered as the wetter soil (4-6" deep) dried out in June. I feel this set up our Pythium root rot disease problem where good dry bean plants died in mid-July. My dry bean trials are dry in Bay, Sanilac and Tuscola. Gratiot and Huron are adequate, but getting dry. Montcalm, the irrigated trial looks good. Arenac County is the only general area I know that has had too much rain at times. Look for the upcoming crop report to reflect this fair condition to our dry bean crop. Remember, the crop report released in August is as of August 1 and a few good rains in the first ten days of August can make a lot of yield in dry beans.

Potato Leafhoppers have been high this season and growers should watch their dry beans for infestations. Some Cruiser treated fields had to be sprayed because adult potato leafhoppers came in late and laid eggs and the nymphs were turning the bottoms of these plants yellow. Cruiser will last about 40 days. Later sprays will also control tarnished plant bugs.

Dry Bean Harvest Demonstration will take place on the afternoon of the Bean and Bean Farm Tour on August 28. Jaguar, Condor and Black Velvet black beans were planted in 15" rows on May 21 at this site.

Published by
Michigan Bean Commission
1031 S. US 27
St Johns, Michigan 48879
989 224 1361
mbc@mutualdata.com