Abstract

Dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), a high-protein pulse crop, have been grown in the Northeast since the 1800’s. As the local food movement continues to diversify and expand, consumers are asking stores to carry more locally-produced foods, and dry beans are no exception. Currently, the demand for locally sourced dry beans has far exceeded the supply. Farmers are also looking for high-value crops to diversify their rotations. Modern breeding efforts have expanded the market classes that can be direct harvested, lowering the barrier to entry by reducing the need for specialized equipment. These alternative market classes are valued by consumers for their culinary characteristics and visual appeal. Current management practices for organic dry beans can deplete the soil because of the reliance on tillage and cultivation for weed management and harvesting. Direct-harvested dry beans, specifically black beans, have shown promise in organic no-till systems and could reduce the negative impacts on soil health while still suppressing weeds. However, there has been little research on how other market classes perform in a no-till production system. To support and expand organic dry bean production throughout the northeast, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program initiated a research trial to evaluate the performance of four dry bean market classes (black, navy, pinto, and small red) in an organic tilled system compared to an organic no-till system.

Publication Date

2-2024

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