Five arable farmers in Scotland are taking part in an Innovative Farmers field lab, trialling different bean varieties to discover which are best for the region’s growing conditions. The two-year field lab aims to evaluate the suitability of bean production in Scotland and to find out which variety/varieties works best, in a country where bean cultivation is rare. 

PGRO coordinates the trial, with research support from Scottish Agronomy. We catch up with Erin Matlock, Research Agronomist for PGRO, for an update on the trial. 

Why is the field lab so important?   

The field lab has been set up to prove to farmers, agronomists, seed companies and others that winter bean varieties are viable options as break crops in Scotland. They’re especially important as an alternative to oilseed rape, a crop often used as a break crop in the region, that’s experiencing increasingly worse harvests due to pests and diseases. Growing beans can be great for improving soil fertility and soil structure.    

Can you explain how Scottish regional conditions are different to the traditional UK bean growing regions?  

In general, Scotland has less sunlight hours to finish off the crop. It’s often cool and wet. There can be a concern that beans won’t mature and there may be more potential for diseases in these conditions.  

How are the trials going so far?  

Unfortunately, none of the bean varieties at two of the five sites made it through the winter, which shows it is an agronomic issue and not a varietal choice issue. This was likely due to delayed drilling, which we’ve learned from. It’s looking really good at the other three sites, across all varieties. These sites will hopefully be harvested by mid-September. We’ll then use the Bean Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) to compare the results from the Scottish field lab to the rest of the UK.    

Are the farmers at the three trial sites pleased with how the field lab is going?  

Yes, the farmers at the other sites are pleased. Two of the three remaining sites are with first-time bean growers and they’re optimistic about the crop becoming part of their rotation.    

How do you think the hotter, drier weather this summer has impacted yield and harvest date?   

I suspect the yield will be lower than it should be, as weather really dictates the yield of a bean crop. The lack of rain and the extreme heat is abnormal for Scotland. It’s likely caused more flower abortion – when the flowers drop off without forming a bean pod. If the heat came in after the pods appeared it would help the beans reach maturity faster, but when it’s before it reduces the yield.    

Have pests and disease had any impact on the crops?  

There have been signs of aphid transmitted viruses in bean crops across the UK, not just in these trials. There have been some chocolate spot and rust in the trials though but it’s hard to say if they’ll impact yield until the crops are combined.   

You recently held two Scotland Bean Variety field lab events. Can you tell us more about them?  

Both events involved farm walks and discussions around the field lab. It’s a busy time of year for Scottish farmers but we got a lot of farmers, plus agronomy companies and seed merchants, at both events. There was a lot of positivity around winter bean varieties growing in the region. People asked lots of questions, for example, about bean establishment, the pros and cons of each variety, how deep to drill and what to look out for throughout the growing season. We had lots of engaging, dynamic conversations.    

Do you think the results of the field lab will give Scottish farmers more confidence to grow bean varieties?  

I think they will. Even though we had two sites fail, there are learnings from that. And the three sites where the crop survived will give positive results. Failure isn’t a bad thing as we learn more from failure than what we do when things go as planned. I think we’ve proven the concept that winter beans are a viable crop in Scotland. 

What would you say to farmers thinking of growing bean varieties in Scotland?  

Start small and get comfortable with the crop, like you would with any novel crop you’re growing. Watch the drilling date and aim for the end of October into early November. Make sure you drill deep enough, so the birds can’t get to the seeds, and so they survive the winter. And remember, there are no bad questions! PGRO is always here to help you with any bean growing queries. We’re only a phone call away. 

For more information on the field lab take a look at the field lab page.