Winter Beans Growers Guide
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A comprehensive guide to growing winter beans, the varieties, agronomy and end markets * > senova

For more information on winter beans visit: www.senova.uk.com www.winter-beans.co.uk Senova Ltd 49 North Road Great Abington Cambridge CB21 6AS

Senova: at the heart of the UK Pulse market 2 Choosing the right crop 3 The case for winter beans 4 Which winter bean variety 6 Variety choice by agronomic character 8 The market - where do all the winter beans go? 10 Match your market choice to your soil type 14 Senova - Strategic breeding and supportive research 28 Winter Bean Growers Guide 1

senova Senova: at the heart of the UK Pulse market Senova is a private, independent seed marketing and crop development company with a diverse portfolio, and has been actively involved in the pulse market for over 25 years. In 2016 Senova and Wherry & Sons formed UK Pulses, a joint venture, to specialise in the development, production and commercialisation of pulse crops. Senova are excited to bring new and existing winter bean varieties to the market. Senova remains dedicated to the needs of the market and strives to give the breeding activities realistic objectives in line with those...

Choosing the right crop Winter beans, spring beans or peas? Increased market demand, improved gross margins and the search for desirable alternative protein sources have highlighted the pulse crop to many new growers. Choices come down to suitability for the individual situation, land type, preference for winter or spring cropping, severity of black-grass issue or market and quality expectations. This is simplified below: HEAVY LAND Fertile soils may cause issues with weed control and/or additional straw growth on some crops. Choose a shorter or stiffer strawed variety MEDIUM LAND Winter...

Winter Beans are the leading Autumn break crop option -for reliability The decision process in choosing a break crop is now increasingly more complex. Growers now need to consider crop reliability when making this decision and balance against expected returns for other crops such as OSR which may not survive after the winter period due to establishment and pest issues. The winter bean crop can be established with a range of methods to suit the situation and has robust early growth which can cope with a range of temperature and moisture related conditions. Winter beans are a valued break in...

The demand for home grown protein consumption, export markets and added value markets remain key In recent years, the demand for export quality beans has exceeded supply. Additionally demand from feed protein markets has seen prices provide good returns on farm and offer excellent potential for future demand. Additional opportunities into the Aquaculture market and the plant protein sector will help maintain this demand in the future. Winter beans do not require nitrogen fertiliser and will increase yields of subsequent crops Winter beans produce root nodules, thereby fixing atmospheric...

Which winter bean variety? Variety selection should be determined by the choice of end market, variety acceptability and the conditions in which the beans are to be produced. SENOVA VARIETIES: PROVEN Vespa Winter Bean Vespa is the highest yielding winter bean on the PGRO DL, with medium height, very stiff straw. It is early to ripen. Vespa has improved standing ability and a larger seed size than Tundra. With large seed and a pale hilum, Vespa is suitable for both export and animal feed markets. TGW 682 Bumble is a high yielding, taller winter bean with good standing ability and early...

The six leading Senova varieties on the PGRO Descriptive List are large seeded pale hilum types with potential for the export market – Vespa, Bumble, Wizard, Honey, Norton and Vincent. IN THE FIELD AND MARKET Wizard Established variety producing relatively large attractive seed. Wizard has excellent export potential for splitting and is the preferred variety for this market. Wizard is medium branching, early-maturing with good straw characteristics. It yields well in most soils across the UK. TGW 675 Honey Honey produces attractive large seed, suitable for the export market. It has a more...

Variety choice by agronomic character Very stiff Later maturity Medium height straw Good standing Medium maturity Medium height straw Medium/tall height Stiff straw Moderate strength straw Very early maturity Medium maturity Very short stiff straw Medium height straw Very early maturity Medium/ tall straw Good standing Early maturity Research, Intellectual property and how the breeder is rewarded Senova has a committed programme of R&D investment into the UK Pulse crop for the ultimate benefit of UK growers. For every variety which is promoted onto the Recommended List there are many...

Resources required for new varieties and variety maintenance The breeder’s reward is through protection of varieties through Intellectual Property Rights and Plant Breeders Rights (PBR). Growers have the right to choose to use either certified seed or farm saved seed. Breeders do however need to be rewarded for this work, to sustain investment in the delivery of varieties with improved value and performance. Genetic resources, high tech facilities, qualified experienced staff, breeding new lines for on going UK selection. Investment in co-funded pre breeding projects Multi-year,...

The market – opportunities to lock into the supply chain Markets Beans are currently produced for two main markets: export human consumption and animal feed. Total UK bean production ranges from 500,000 to 600,000t per year. Typically, up to 30% of this is exported for human consumption and the remainder is sold locally for compound animal feed. The quality of the produce determines which market the beans are best suited to. The specification for human consumption and feed beans is similar, with a maximum of 2% admixture and 14-16% moisture, depending on the buyer. Bruchid beetle damage or...

processing, so larger seeded types are preferred. Wizard has been a preferred variety into this market as it is considered superior to the smaller seeded types. However this could change as new varieties are adopted – although the largest seeds will continue to interest processors in the area of the market. Animal feed Annual demand for feed beans in the UK varies from 250,000 to 350,000t. In recent years interest in GM-free protein has started to stimulate this market and offers great potential for growth. Beans are typically compounded in ruminant feed as a protein source. This is seen as...