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 annually, producing approximately 1 billion servings. This production is concentrated in western Nebraska, where the climate is arid and the warm days and cool nights provide excellent growing conditions for dry edible beans.

In 2015 Nebraska ranked nationally in dry bean production:

1st in production of Great Northern beans
2nd in production of pinto beans and light red kidney beans
4th in production of all dry edible beans

Hear from farmers in the Nebraska Panhandle and follow dry bean harvest from start to finish in this film by Joe Patterson with support from the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.

Learn More About Dry Beans:

Nebraska Dry Bean Commission
The Bean Bag, a resource produced by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association
USDA's Briefing Room on Dry Beans
Northarvest Bean Growers Association, serving North Dakota and Minnesota growers

UNL, NDA Receive Grants for Specialty Crop Research November 5, 2018

Specialty crop research in Nebraska is getting a boost from almost $700,000 awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study hops, dry beans, and wine grapes; to monitor invasive pests; and to encourage healthy snacking in schools.

Cowpea wilt — Figure 1. A two-year study of diseases in Nebraska cowpea, also known as black-eyed pea, found a wilt, similar to bacterial wilt in dry bean, to be most common. (Photos by Bob Harveson)

Cowpea Bacterial Wilt ― An Old Disease in a New Crop October 9, 2018

As growers in western Nebraska look at new pulse crops to integrate into their rotations, a UNL plant pathologist works to identify possible disease threats. Cowpea (black-eyed pea) is being studied now.

Figure 1. Researchers tour multiple dry bean variety plots at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center to identify favorable traits for varieties grown in Nebraska and elsewhere. (Photo by David Ostdiek) — Figure 1. Inspecting a variety plot of dry beans north of Scottsbluff are (from left) Phil Miklas, USDA plant breeder; Carlos Urrea, UNL dry bean breeding specialist; Tim Porch, USDA plant breeder; and Karen Cichy, USDA plant breeder. (Photo by David Ostdiek)

Worldwide Collaboration to Breed Better Dry Beans September 27, 2018

Researchers from USDA, UNL, and other land-grant universities are working together to help identify traits to improve dry bean quality in Nebraska and worldwide.

Dry bean harvest in Scotts Bluff County Sept. 12, 2018 (Photo by Gary Stone) — Dry bean harvest underway in Scotts Bluff County Sept. 12, 2018. (Photo by Gary Stone)

Dry Edible Bean Harvest Underway in the Panhandle September 13, 2018

With limited precipitation and warm temperatures this week, dry beans turned quickly and harvest has started. Conditions should provide for good data collection from on-farm research of using direct harvesting methods.

Weed control research in dry bean plots — A review of multiple studies conducted on weed management in dry beans in the US and Canada indicated that without weed control, yield losses could be as much as $720 million per year. (Photo by Nevin Lawrence)

What Would Happen if We Stopped Controlling Weeds? July 19, 2018

A recent study of 10 years of research in key dry bean production areas of the US and Canada showed the value of weed management. Without weed control losses were estimated at $720 million.

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