Dry Edible Bean Day is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Gering Civic Center, sponsored by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association (NDBGA). Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.

After welcome messages from Bean Growers President Dan Hinman, Panhandle Research and Extension Center Director Jack Whittier and Nebraska Dry Bean Commission Chair Brian Kaman, the growers’ association annual meeting will start at 1:15 p.m. Among other items of business, voting will be held on NDBGA officers. Secretary of State Bob Evnen will speak at 1:30 p.m., followed by Steve Wellman, Nebraska Director of Agriculture, at 2 p.m.

Following a break and opportunity to visit vendors, UNL specialists and educators will present report on their research programs conducted at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Reports include:

• Dry Bean Breeding Specialist Carlos Urrea, Update on Dry Bean Breeding Activities
• Water and Irrigation Management Specialist Xin Qiao, An Internet of Things Platform for Ag Production in western Nebraska
• Integrated Weed Management Specialist Nevin Lawrence, Palmer Amaranth Control in Dry Bean
• Plant Pathologist Bob Harveson, Pulse Crop Disease Update
• Extension Educator John Thomas, Population and Variety Studies, On-Farm Research Update 2019
• Extension Educator Jessica Groskopf, Farm Bill update
• Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist Bijesh Maharjan, Nutrient Management for Dry Beans
• Panhandle Center Director Jack Whittier, recognition of Lynn Reuter of Nebraska Dry Bean Commission for service to Nebraska Extension.

Bean Day concludes with a social hour from 5-6 p.m. Vendors will have booths set up throughout the event.

Bean Day will include a food drive for local food pantries. Each person is asked to bring a bag or can of beans or food item to registration. Each food item or monetary donation is worth a ticket for several grand prize drawings.

More information about Bean Day, including a brochure with a complete schedule and list of vendors, is available at the NDBGA website.