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White mold not as problematic as 2014

A wet June had many dry bean growers concerned about quality, however the Michigan Dry Bean Research Board says timely rains in July and August are helping the crop along.

Research Director Greg Varner says those rains have led to some disease issues, but white mold pressure is not nearly as rampant as last year.

“Last year, in 2014, was probably the worst white mold we have ever seen in our dry beans.” He tells Brownfield, “Many growers were spaying a preventive spay at first flower, which most of that first flower spraying was done in the last 10 days of July and the first 10 days of August.”  Varner says anthracnose is also showing up in black beans where farmers had to plant noncertified seed due to seed shortages.

Varner expects harvest in early planted dry bean fields to be on pace with average. He tells Brownfield he anticipates beans planted after June 20th to be later than normal, with harvest wrapping up around October 10th.

AUDIO: Interview with Greg Varner (3:21 mp3):