Teagasc is encouraging tillage farmers in the north-east to seriously consider beans as a break crop this spring.

“But the clock is ticking from a planting point of view,” said Teagasc Tillage Advisor Shane Kennedy.

“The recent wet weather has restricted sowing opportunities. The normal planting window is between the end of February and the first week or so of April. Yields will be compromised with crops sown out beyond that date.

“Beans should be harvested in October. Delayed plantings could push this date back to November, at which time ground conditions will not be conducive to trafficking by heavy machinery.”

Kennedy confirmed that beans prefer heavier, moisture-retaining soils.

“Crops grown on lighter soils are prone to drought stress. And this will impact negatively on yields,” he explained.

“An EU subsidy is available on beans at the present time. It’s simply a case of registering the crop when the basic payment application forms are submitted.

“But they are a commercially-viable crop in their own right. The break-even yield is in the region of 2.2t/ac. And yields of this magnitude are feasible here in Ireland, provided crops are sown out early enough.”

Kennedy confirmed that beans represent a very suitable break crop for cereal growers.

“As legumes, they fix their own nitrogen,” he said.

A soil pH of between 6.5 and 7.0 is required. Beans are also a combinable crop. As a result, there is no additional equipment needed on farms.

“Subsequent crops will also benefit from the residual nitrogen that has been accumulated in the soil by the beans.”

Teagasc Oakpark will host a Beans Open Day at its Crops Research Centre on June 28.

“Beans represent a potentially valuable home-grown protein source for livestock,” said Kennedy. “As such, they have the capacity to reduce the livestock sector’s reliance on imported soya.”