NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

July 1, 1999

1998 Dry Bean Survey Details Changes in Varietal Selection, Disease Problems

The region's dry edible producers made major changes in the market classes and the varieties they grew in 1998. At the same time, the disease problems they experienced in 1998 were considerably different than in 1997 and 1996. These findings are reflected in the responses growers provided to a survey earlier this year.

"There were dramatic changes in pinto varieties grown in the past three years. It's likely that there would have been more acres planted to Maverick in 1997, had there been more seed available," says Art Lamey, extension plant pathologist at North Dakota State University.

Lamey helps administer the annual dry bean growers survey and compile the data. The respondents are members of the Northarvest Bean Growers Association, a group comprised of producers in North Dakota and Minnesota. Respondents to the 1998 dry bean survey said they planted Maverick on 43 percent of their pinto acres. They planted Winchester, a distant second, on 16 percent of their pinto acres. Those varieties, along with Remington and Chase—all four rust resistant—accounted for 71 percent of the region's 1998 pinto acreage.

"In 1996, almost all pinto varieties were susceptible to rust," Lamey says. "That same year, 36 percent of all respondents said they sprayed a rust fungicide on their pintos. In 1998, only 4 percent did so. Climatic changes may have been partially responsible for the reduced use of rust fungicides during this period, but shifting to varieties resistant to the prevalent rust races most likely played a major role."

Survey respondents from North Dakota reported planting pintos on 61 percent of their dry bean acres, followed by black beans and navy beans, each at 17 percent. In Minnesota, respondents reported planting 46 percent of their dry bean acres to kidneys, followed by pintos at 22 percent and navy beans at 16 percent, Lamey says.

The increase in North Dakota's black bean acreage for 1998 is significant. Lamey says, "It may be a one-year phenomenon."

In 1998, Norstar continued to be the preferred navy bean variety, with Minnesota respondents saying they planted it on 39 percent of their navy acres and North Dakotans indicating it comprised 35 percent of their acres. But North Dakota respondents also reported planting the variety Mayflower on 25 percent of their navy acres—a large increase, Lamey says. Meanwhile, Minnesota respondents said they planted the Montcalm dark red kidney variety on 78 percent of their kidney acres.

As for production problems, Minnesota respondents said disease was their worst 1998 problem, followed by weeds and weather. North Dakota respondents listed weather as their worst problem, followed by weeds and disease, Lamey says.

One reason why production problems differed between the states in 1998 might relate to what producers grew, Lamey says. Minnesota respondents reported that root rot was their worst disease problem on 46 percent of their dry bean acres. Root rot is a more serious threat to kidney beans.

Typically a secondary problem when compared to white mold, root rot has been an increasing concern for Northarvest producers. Research is under way at NDSU and the University of Minnesota on developing root rot resistant varieties, Lamey says. In addition, U of M researchers are studying root rot biology and various disease-management options, including biological control.

"In past years, white mold has overshadowed other disease problems," Lamey says. "Last year, many areas dried up just prior to flowering, so we got a little bit of a last-minute bail out."

The 1998 dry bean growers survey occurred during Northarvest Bean Day, held last Jan. 22, Lamey says. The 1998 dry bean survey generated 176 usable responses, 15 percent fewer than in 1997. The 1998 survey responses represent 96,719 acres, slightly more than 10 percent of the total Northarvest acreage (940,000). Prior to 1997, Northarvest growers received the surveys by mail. Complete results from the 1998 survey will be published later this year.

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Source: Art Lamey (701) 231-7056

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136