Navigation
Nebraska Dry Edible Beans
The latest Extension information about dry bean production and management practices from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Nebraska's dry bean industry
Nebraska dry edible bean producers plant anywhere from 140,000 to 200,000 acres of beans in a typical year. This production is concentrated in western Nebraska.
Nebraska's national rankings in dry bean production (Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture, 2008):
- 4th in production of all dry edible beans
- 1st in production of great northern beans
- 2nd in production of pinto beans
Learn More About Dry Beans:
RECENT ARTICLES:
Irrigating dry edible beans with limited supply of water
Despite recent precipitation, dry bean growers in western Nebraska could still face limited supplies of irrigation water in 2013, whether their water supply is surface water or groundwater. Research performed at the Panhandle Center shows that yield loss caused by water stress varies, depending on which growth stage or stages the bean plant is in when water is limited. The general recommendation is to make sure that the bean crop gets adequate water in the first two growth stages, the vegetative and flowering phases, and if it’s necessary to cut back on irrigation, try to do so later in the season, during pod filling.
Planting for Direct Harvest of Dry Edible Beans — Some Dos and Don’ts
Direct harvest of dry edible beans is not new to the United States. It is the most common harvest method for dry edible beans in Michigan and North Dakota. But producers in western Nebraska, northeast Colorado, and southeast Wyoming are still discovering the details that will make the system work well for them. Read recommendations for direct harvest related practices to consider for the 2013 bean growing season, from Professor Emeritus John Smith and Extension Educator John Thomas.
Direct harvest of dry beans draws a lot of interest
Dry bean producers who want to switch to direct harvest need to do more than simply change their harvest routine. They must adapt their entire production system, according to several speakers at a packed meeting in Alliance. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension experts and others shared research and experience in direct harvest at a recent meeting at Alliance to an audience of 84 people who included producers, bean processor representatives, equipment company reps, and others.