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Farmer excited for timely dry bean harvest

drybean planting2A lifetime dry bean farmer says he’s looking forward to an early harvest this year after finishing planting the earliest ever in his farming career.

Fourth-generation Michigan farmer Greg Ackerman tells Brownfield during the last two planting seasons dry beans didn’t get planted till the end of June.  “The earlier you can plant these beans, the earlier you can harvest them.”  He says, “Two years in a row we got stuck with putting them in on the end of June and it makes your fall just miserable because you’re doing beans in October.”  He says when dry bean harvest runs into October, there are shorter, cooler days which can impact maturity.

Also chairman of the Michigan Bean Commission, Ackerman says the market for dry beans looks positive.  “Dry beans are a high risk crop and it’s a high reward crop, it’s been for us and it’s worked out well.”  He says, “Sugarbeets are another one, it’s more work but better return.”

Ackerman grows corn, soybeans, wheat, dry beans and sugarbeets near Vassar, in the Thumb of Michigan. He says with planting wrapped up, he’s focused on crop scouting.

AUDIO: Interview with Greg Ackerman

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