Robert M. Harveson, Extension Plant Pathologist
Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff
Interest in chickpea production in Nebraska has ebbed and flowed over the last 20 years. Beginning about 2000 chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, became a popular crop to rotate into production systems, particularly in Box Butte County.
In 2005-06 acreage of the new crop approached 10,000 acres planted. However, due almost exclusively to the appearance of a disease called Ascochyta blight, interest in the crop dropped drastically. This devastating disease, caused by a fungus, is considered to be the most important yield limiting factor worldwide, and is present everywhere chickpeas are grown.