Winter Beans Archives

Winter beans provide crucial protein source for Northumberland farmer

For Northumberland farmer, Wayne Bean of T Bean & Sons, growing his own livestock feed is key to maintaining profitability from his cattle and sheep.

Whole crop beans, maize, kale, forage rape, fodder beet and grain are grown for this purpose at Broad Oak Farm, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

“We are totally self sufficient in producing the ingredients for our rations. By growing our own feed, it puts us in control of our own costs as much as possible,” explains Wayne.

“We know the margins that we have to operate within between profit and loss, and this is particularly important when we buy cattle in, as it helps us to know our margins are fixed before starting.”

“It’s also important that in our cattle ration we include a protein source, as well as fibre, which whole crop beans provide.”

Beans became central to the rotation at Broad Oak Farm back in 2008, initially in response to a price hike in protein and nitrogen costs when 20 acres were drilled on a trial and now there is as much as 80 acres grown in any one season.

“Initially we grew spring beans, but have changed to winter varieties as we have found we can drill them into the heavier ground where maize can’t be grown as a break crop and weed control.”

“With our land being up to 1000 ft above sea level, conditions in the spring are unpredictable, so it takes the risk away.”

“We are now growing the variety Tundra. Whilst it’s not the highest yielding variety available, it has one of the highest protein contents which is key for us, and agronomically we like it for its good standing and earliness of maturity,” he says.

“We harvest the beans using a direct disc header on the forage harvester. We generally try to avoid using pod stick to keep costs down, as find that this approach helps us to reduce seed losses.”

“We aim to get the maize crop as dry as possible for high DM. The grain we grow is crimped and the whole crop beans go on top of the crimped grain in the clamp. We use an additive (Safesill), which is applied by the harvester and we usually wait for about 4-6 weeks before feeding.”

“It’s not the way that many would feed beans but it works very well for us!”

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Limagrain Field Seeds forge a new path in plant breeding for pulses

Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and Limagrain Field Seeds are excited to announce a new collaboration for pulse breeding in Saskatchewan, Canada.

This new collaboration has a strong commercial focus and will bring new and additional investment into pea and lentil breeding locally in Saskatchewan, increasing competition, and creating a strong
environment to foster innovation.

Developing new and better performing varieties of peas and lentils is the focus of the breeding collaboration. Farmers’ priorities and greatest production challenges are at the forefront of the breeding program, with major areas of focus including resistance to root disease in peas and lentils, increased protein content, and overall improvements in yield performance under varying conditions.

Breeding will take place in Saskatchewan for the benefit of Saskatchewan producers. “We are excited for this new direction in pulse breeding for farmers in Saskatchewan. It is important to continue fostering innovation and competition in pulse breeding and to bring new perspectives to challenging on-farm issues like root rots and herbicide resistance,” says Shaun Dyrland, Chair of SPG Board of Directors.

“We believe this new collaboration with Limagrain on pulse breeding will allow for targeting grower priorities and ensuring that growers’ direction and voices are at the table helping to drive new varieties.”

The new Limagrain Field Seeds breeding, and research program will be based in Saskatoon, where a dedicated pulse breeding team will be created, bringing new expertise in breeding, pathology, molecular genetics, and field trial evaluation to the region.

This technology driven program will lead to higher performing varieties being made available to producers more quickly by deploying all available technology to both shorten the breeding cycle and accelerate seed production.

Commitment and Collaboration

“Limagrain is very committed to producing plant-based proteins. Saskatchewan is at the heart of global pulse production, so it makes perfect sense for Limagrain Field Seeds to extend its existing cereal breeding research in Saskatoon, and to now include these two pulse crops reinforcing our commitment to Saskatchewan,” remarked Régis Fournier, CEO of Limagrain Field Seeds.

“Collaboration is a core value for Limagrain and partnering with SPG, a fellow farmer-led organization is a crucially important component.”

Both SPG and Limagrain are farmer-led with farmer-based boards of Directors. This is an important pillar to this new collaboration, which was developed around shared values to support and foster profitable growth and opportunities for Saskatchewan farmers.

The collaboration has SPG and Limagrain sharing in upfront investments, with future royalties from the sale of new varieties to be shared. SPG will provide input on breeding priorities and ensure that farmers’ voices, needs, priorities, and challenges are driving the goals of the program every step of the way.

Benefits for European and UK pulse markets

Will Pillinger, pulse breeder for Limagrain UK believes European and UK markets can expect to see the benefits from this incredibly significant pulses breeding collaboration in the near future through combined technology and genetic diversity. “The partnership with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), has increased our investment in genomic selection and specific trait related genetic markers for peas, beans and lentils.”

“This increased global pulse breeding will have an immediate impact on the ability for Limagrain UK to access accelerated improvements in yield, quality and disease resistance and it should not be too long before we see these attributes on UK farms.”

TO VIEW LIMAGRAIN’S PULSE VARIETIES, CLICK HERE

Treble success on the PGRO Descriptive List for Limagrain beans & peas

After another strong year spring bean LG Raptor moves from its P2 rating to fully join the PGRO DL offering high yields, excellent vigour and agronomics

• After another strong year, spring bean LG Raptor moves from its P2 rating to fully join the PGRO DL offering high yields, excellent vigour and agronomics
• A second spring bean, LG Viper also fully joins the DL from Limagrain, offering a class-leading disease package
• Blue pea LG Aviator also moves from a P2 to full recommendation with a world-class disease resistance package and standing power

Spring Beans
Yield performance – that is yield and consistency – is the most important factor for spring beans and is a major focus in the Limagrain breeding programme and this can be seen in our spring bean additions to the DL this year,” notes Will Pillinger, pulse breeder at Limagrain UK.-

“LG Raptor offers extremely high yield potential at 102% of control, and importantly has shown a consistency in these yields over the last few years, which is a really important and valuable attribute for a spring bean,” he says.

“But high yields need to be backed up by solid agronomics and traits – and LG Raptor offers all of this – it is fairly early to mature, stands well and offers a good disease package including rust.”

“LG Raptor is suitable for human consumption, fish feed and animal protein markets so offers a range of marketing opportunities.”

Tom Barker, pulses product manager for Limagrain, says.” LG Raptor’s consistent yields and disease resistance package mean it will be taking a big bite into the spring bean acreage – particularly in the north with its particular combination of traits.”

“LG Viper is our second spring bean to fully join the DL and a really exciting spring bean variety that offers a class leading disease package backed up by Limagrain’s comprehensive, extensive and reliable dataset,” says Mr Pillinger.

“Looking in particular at rust resistance; LG Viper’s rating of 7 is stand-out when compared to other varieties in the sector and really worth taking note of. The variety also has a good downey mildew rating of 6.”

“Standing is a really important attribute for on-farm management of spring beans, LG Viper has the highest standing power rating on the DL of 9.”

“Yield-wise the variety sits well up in the top of the pack at 102% of control.”

Mr Barker adds to the breeder’s comments, pointing out that the variety is suitable for the human, fish and animal protein markets offering a high thousand grain weight (633 (g)n (@15%mc) and an excellent protein content (% dry).

Peas

Large blue pea LG Aviator also moves from a P2 rating to a full recommendation with a yield of 100%.

Will Pillinger explains that the reason for these high yields is because LG Aviator is a multi-podded variety type. “For each node that LG Aviator produces, there are three pods, this means there are more pods at the top of the plant rather than spread through the plant, making for a more even maturity with less competition for light – and this is a significant characteristic in building yield.”

He points out that with this stunning and predictable plant habit, this new type of manageable green pea variety makes planning pesticide and nutrient applications far easier than conventional ‘semi-indeterminate’ types. This also applies for predicting the harvest period- which is really useful.

Agronomically there is much to like about the variety he adds. “LG Aviator offers one of the best resistances to downey mildew (8) and is highly resistant to powdery mildew. It’s early, and has good ratings for standing ability and straw length (rated 7) – making it one of the best agronomic packages of any other provisionally rated varieties.”

“Suitable for both human consumption and for animal protein, all of this makes for a very exciting variety and one that should perform well for UK growers. End users have already shown a significant interest in LG Aviator.”

LG Pulse Breeding aims for 2022 and beyond

• Producing consistently reliable varieties for variable seasons
• Increasing resistance to viruses
• Increasing pest tolerance
• Continued focus on breeding for root rot (Aphanomyces) tolerance
• Continued selection for high protein content in peas

LG Raptor’s Excellent Yields & Early Maturity

Excellent yields and the early maturity of spring bean variety: LG Raptor, have delighted Lincolnshire grower, Tim Lamyman. We ask Tim to share his thoughts on the crop and how he achieved these top yields.

Tim Lamyman

Harvested on the 16th September, the crop yielded 7.1 t/ha with a moisture content of 14.5%.

Reflecting on the growing season, Mr. Lamyman says: “We particularly noticed the high number of pods per plant, which was around 30. These pods were consistent in size, and this has obviously translated into yield.”

“We were a bit short of seed, so we planted at 200 kg/ha, rather than the recommended rate of 250 kg/ha.” As a result, there were 28 to 35 plants/m2. He firmly believes he could have pushed the yield further with more seed.

The spring beans follow spring barley in a rotation. “The field chosen for the crop was a south-facing grade 2 chalky Wold clay, which offers the potential for well-structured root systems, enabling easier nutrient uptake – which I believe is key to a high yielding crop.”

Mr. Lamyman believes that well-targeted crop nutrition is critical to success, and follows a strategy aimed at getting the young crop established and away promptly.

“We applied 1 l/ha 1-4-All and 2 l/ha of ToPPit (a liquid fertiliser containing phosphorus, potassium and micro elements) to reduce stress and strengthen the roots, helping the crop get away.”

LG Raptor

Prompt establishment and vigour from his crop nutrition strategy also helped to reduce any susceptibility to downy mildew, he adds.

To keep feeding and increasing biomass, another 2 l/ha application of ToPPit was made at early flowering, with 1 l/ha XStress (used to enhance photosynthesis and growth), and 0.5 l/ha CalFlux (used to help the flowering part of the plant). This was followed at mid to late term with 1 l/ha X-Stress and 1 l/ha CalFlux.”

Calcium is an essential part of the cell structure of new growth, and if a plant is put under environmental stresses at the flowering time, this can lead to almost complete pod abortion – as happened this spring, he says. He uses CalFlux because he finds it penetrates the flowers and remains there for the plant to draw on in stressful times, instead of using the calcium from the new growth.

“This spring, it was an essential requirement for pulse crops to have XStress and CalFlux technology, to get them through the incredibly dry spring we had.”

“We will be growing LG Raptor again in 2021. What we liked most about LG Raptor is its early maturity, which is difficult to find, stiff straw and the first-rate yield.”

Pulses product manager for Limagrain, Tom Barker, believes that LG Raptor gives farmers a new option in spring beans, combining early maturity and high yield.

With its high yield of 105% of control, good early maturity (7), and all-round agronomic package, growers should be excited by LG Raptor. It is suitable for the human consumption market, export and protein markets, and will certainly be a variety to watch out for.

All information is from the PGRO Descriptive List 2021, available at www.pgro.org

Moving up in the 2021-2022 PGRO Descriptive List

The spring bean LG Raptor continues to produce outstanding yields and moves to a P2 rating at 105% over control.

“Yield is the most important factor for spring beans, and is a major focus in our breeding programme,” notes Will Pillinger, pulse breeder at Limagrain UK.

“The success of this approach can be seen as LG Raptor moves closer to recommendation offering extremely high yield potential that could see it outyielding the market leader by next season, he says.

“This year LG Raptor showed excellent uniformity throughout the growing season which has translated into a uniform sample.”

“But high yields need to be backed up by solid agronomics and traits, and LG Raptor does this – it is fairly early to mature, stands well and offers a good disease package including rust. This combination of traits makes it a good variety for the north.”

LG Raptor is suitable for human consumption, fish feed and animal protein markets so offers a range of marketing opportunities.

Tom Barker, pulses product manager for Limagrain UK, sums the variety up.” LG Raptor’s consistent yields and disease resistance package mean it will be taking a big bite into the spring bean acreage.”

Large blue pea LG Aviator also moves to a P2 rating with a yield rating of 103% over control.

Will Pillinger explains that the reason for these high yields is because LG Aviator is a multi-podded variety type.

“For each node that LG Aviator produces, there are three pods. This means there are more pods at the top of the plant rather than spread through the plant, making for a more even maturity with less competition for light – and this is a significant characteristic in building yield.”

Agronomically there is much to like about the variety he adds. “LG Aviator is one of only three varieties listed to offer resistance to powdery mildew. It also offers very high levels of tolerance to downy mildew (with a rating of 7).

“It’s early, and has good ratings for standing ability and straw length (rated 6) – making it one of the best agronomic packages of any other provisionally rated varieties.”

“All of this makes for a very exciting variety and definitely one to watch over the next year as it moves towards full recommendation this time next year,” he says.

Key agronomics of LG Raptor – All information is from the PGRO Descriptive List 2021, available at www.pgro.org

LG Pulse Breeding Aims for 2021 and Beyond

Producing consistently reliable varieties for variable seasons
Increasing resistance to viruses
Increasing pest tolerance
Continued focus on breeding for root rot (Aphanomyces) tolerance
Continued selection for high protein content in peas