Breeders improve yields for heirloom dry bean varieties
heirlooms with UC varieties and seen large yield increases. You might be able to get $1 a pound for common beans in the store, and hopefully we can produce something that can bring $5.” Parker has spent years crossing disease resistance into heirloombeans, breeding for improved yields and testing themun- der organic conditions. During aUCDavisDry BeanFieldDay, he joined growers and researchers at plots of seven newly improved heirloom bean varieties. Researchers at the event discussed var-
ious attempts to breedbean varieties that will yield more or better beans, hold up under hot and dry climate or withstand important crop pests and diseases. As par t of a U.S. Depar tment of Agriculture initiative to improve the food value of widely grown crops, UC Davis is working to increase understanding on how beans are digested and which vari- eties supply more nutritional value. “We can measure how beans are brokendown insideour digestive system,”
ByBob Johnson
story—were vulnerable to an aphid-vec- tored disease. It stunted the plants so that they couldn’t match yields of cur- rent common beans. But that disease risk is diminishing. “We have varieties we’ve released withmosaic virus resistance,” said Travis Parker, a University of California, Davis, postdoctoral researcher. “We’ve crossed
The next generation of new and im- proved heirloom dry bean varieties is improving yields in addition to being re- sistant to an important bean virus. Previously, these heirloomvarieties— which have distinct flavor, texture and appearance, and frequently come with a Milk production could moderate Dairydemandhasprovenresilient toall but the most extreme forms of pandem- ic-induced lockdowns so far, according to a new report. Farmgate milk prices are generally on thehighsideacrossmuchof theworld. But risingproductioncosts anddownside risk inmilk prices are givingmany dairy farm- ers the blues. The report fromRaboResearch—adivi- sionof Rabobank—saidU.S. dairy farmers are already experiencing relatively lower milk prices following a year of strong pro- duction growth. That’s leading to a satu- ratedmilkmarket, and persistent margin pressurehasdisruptedayearlongstreakof increasing cownumbers, the report said. “With a grim feed outlook, further de- creases couldbeontheway,” thebanksaid of theU.S. milking herd. Feed costs are generally higher, without muchhopeonthehorizonforaturnaround, according to the report. Drought-stricken corn-crop conditions in the U.S. are bleak andkeepingpriceselevated,analystsnoted. With the school year starting, milk sup- plies are tightening. The free lunch pro- gram that began at the onset of the pan- demic has been extended through this school year, which analysts said should divertmoremilk to bottlers. Though U.S. milk supplies remain am- ple and production continues to grow, Rabo analysts said they expect produc- tion will moderate but remain positive. They noted signs that U.S. cow numbers could be starting to plateau or decline. “Producers have been able to withstand several months of weak margins so far in 2021but facepersistently lowprices anda high-priced feed outlook continuing into next year,” the report said. Correction A quote from winegrape farmer Ivo Jeramaz in the Sept. 8 Ag Alert® (“For or- ganic winegrapes, soil is ‘full of life,’” Page 1) containedan incorrect number due toa transcription error. The correct quote is: “By the time they are happy with tannins in skins, we are talking 28 brix,” Jeramaz said. “That’s 17% alcohol. Nobodywants 17%alcohol.” Logistics disruptions are leading to higher costs, but they’re not affecting the fundamental underlying supply and de- mand, analysts said.
See BEANS, Page 17
EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY!
Participate in our 2021 California Farm Bureau Farm Dog contest. With support from Nationwide, the winner will earn $1,000 in cash . Runners-up receive cash prizes, too.
Submit up to four photos and a brief essay about why your dog is an integral part of your farm or ranch operation.
Enter online at cfbf.com/farmdogcontest by Sep. 17th.
The contest is open only to Farm Bureau members. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can go to cfbf.com/join to learn about becoming a member.
September 15, 2021 Ag Alert 15
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