August 8, 2008

The Annual Nebraska Dry Bean Field Tour is scheduled for August 19 at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center near Scottsbluff.

The Field Tour is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers' Association and the University of Nebraska. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Center auditorium and end with a noon lunch.

The field tour will include presentations on 12 field research and demonstration projects featuring dry edible beans. Topics will cover the complete dry bean production system from variety development through harvest. Alternative harvest demonstrations being conducted in grower fields also will be announced.

Specific projects and topics to discussed include:

• Managing the risk from insect damage in dry beans
• No-till limited irrigated production for dry beans
• Strip-till versus broadcast nitrogen for dry bean production
• Biological control of root rotting pathogens in dry beans with several unknown sterile fungi
• The Legume PIPE program and its implementation in Nebraska dry bean fields
• Combined effect of variety, irrigation, and compaction on bean performance
• Intermediate great northern, pinto, red, and black bean lines
• Is Valor a viable option for weed control in dry beans?
• Understanding growth habits and how it affects management decisions
• Yield expectations with limited water supplies
• Effect of zone tillage shank depth and soil compaction on dry bean production

For more information visit the Panhandle Research and Extension Center Web site and click on "Dry Bean Field Tour" or call 308-632-1230.