WHAT MICHIGAN GROWERS ARE DOING TO ACHIEVE "30 cwt. PER ACRE"

• Tile spacing every 2 rods, down to 25-30 feet apart. The field should have proper surface drainage, no ponds.

• Plant full season Navy and Black beans. Vista and Schooner Navies have the best genetic potential to achieve the 50 bushel or 30 cwt. mark. Pintos and irrigated California Early Light Red Kidneys also have 30 cwt. potential.

• 22 inch rows - narrow row research has shown higher yield percentage increases with dry beans compared to other crops grown in the dry bean area.

• Spray for potato leaf hoppers before they stunt growth. Don't wait to see damage.

• Spray for suppression of white mold. Benlate and Topsin M will reduce white mold infection sites on dry bean plants. White mold is a high yield disease and we want to save as much yield as possible.

• Non-compacted, loose soil for proper root growth. Some growers are tilling 6 inches deep before planting. This does cause more weeds but better root development outweighs a few extra weeds.

• Maintain high soil fertility and some growers will spray foliar nutrients along with insecticide, herbicide and fungicide spray applications.

• Plant only high quality, disease-free seed.

• Planting Recommendations