Results of the 2016 variety trials for dry edible beans and field peas conducted by the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center have been posted on the Nebraska Extension CropWatch website.
The direct link for variety trial results for both peas and beans is http://cropwatch.unl.edu/varietytest/othercrops. Or, navigate to the Other Crops Variety Trials page from the main Cropwatch page (http://cropwatch.unl.edu ) by clicking on these links: management > variety testing > other crops.
Results for 2016 and recent years are listed on that page for both dry beans and peas, along with oats, proso millet, and sunflower.
The 2016 dry bean variety trials were planted at two locations. Great northern, kidney, and pinto were planted at the Mitchell Ag Lab. All market classes and the Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery were planted at the Scottsbluff Ag Lab. Results were compiled by Jim Schild, Extension Educator; Robert Hawley, Extension Technician; and Gary Stone, Extension Educator.
The dry bean report includes a description of the trials and several tables that list yield, moisture, test weight, and other data for each variety within the market classes. The description includes detailed information, such as planting dates, seeding rates, herbicide treatments, row width, irrigation, harvest date and other details.
In addition to the website, the report is being published in the winter edition of the Bean Bag newsletter published by the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association.
The pea trials consisted of five plots: Scotts Bluff County irrigated, Scotts Bluff County dryland, Cheyenne County dryland, Lincoln County dryland, and Perkins County dryland. Sixteen to 21 varieties were planted at each site, depending on preferences of the seed companies. The trial at Box Butte County failed due to weather.
The UNL extension acknowledges help and cooperation of Steve Tucker (producer in Perkins County) and Brad Hansen (producer in Box Butte County) for allowing use of their farms for the respective pea trials.
Reports for each site were compiled by Alternative Crops Breeding Specialist Dipak Santra; Extension Range and Forage Specialist Jerry Volesky; Strahinja Stepanovic, Cropping Systems Extension Educator in Perkins, Chase and Dundy Counties; and Allison Rickey and Vernon Florke, both Research Technicians.
They list yield; test weight; and information on flowering and plant height; and other information about the growing season and production practices at each location.