WCIA Bean Committee Minutes
10:30 a.m., February 1, 2018
Powell R&E Center
President Mike Forman called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.
Welcome and introductions
In attendance: Mike Forman, Mike Moore, Jolene Sweet, Debbie Hufford, Tim Anderson, Hank Uhden, Kim Decker, Cindy Fulton, Pascual Aguilar, Pete Valdon, Michael Rasmussen, Jeff Chapman, Wayne Hort, Butch Lind, Crystal May, Jacob Jarrett, Tod Stutzman, Ken Borcher, Bill Cox, Stormi Siggins, Pat Brownfield, Corey Forman, Josh Christofferson, Gary White, Warren Cox, Brent Brewer, Kelly Spiering, Lee Craig, Peter Spiering, Anthony Spiering, Mike Neves, Vickie Hetzel, Travis and Pam Jackson, Brian Asher, Brian Duyck, Morgan Grover, Dan Smith, Jim Heitholt, Doug Allen, Cortney Allen, Ray Cauffman, Pascual Aguilar, Lynn Preator, Pam Bridgeman, Joe Bridges, Deb Churchill, Ted Craig, Kelly Crane, Glen Whipple, Frank Galey, Bret Hess, Brian Duyck, John Grover, Rick Harrison, Dale Heggem, Fred Hopkin, Brent Horton, Dave Johnson, Jarred Snell, Rodney McNiven, Andrea Pierson, Brad May, Keith Schaefer, Camby Reynolds, Jeremiah Vardiman, Vivek Sharma
Approval of the 2017 committee meeting minutes
Brian Duyck moved, Travis Jacksonsecond,to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery Results
Handouts with the Powell and Lingle, Wyoming Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery results were provided. Mike Moore noted that it is important to assess the data by comparing the yield of lines rather than looking at a line of interest and thinking that it will yield what the trial data indicates. He said this is data from small plots, and sometimes the extrapolation to pounds per acre exaggerates yield potential. He also recommended that growers look for varieties that do well in more than one trial. If a variety is in the top five in more than one trial, it means it has durable yield potential, and will do well in most growing seasons. The National trial data gives an even better chance to do just that, but the data was not available at the time of this meeting. Mike will post it on the website when he gets it.
Wyoming Bean Commission Report
Jeff Chapman provided the Wyoming Bean Commission Report. He noted that the commission has about $224,000 at their disposal at this time, and that they will have all but about $100,000 of that available for research this year. He gave a list of projects that were funded in 2017, and noted that reports on those projects will be made at the Bean Commission meeting later in the day. He indicated the commission is strongly considering membership in the national dry bean council, with membership cost being between $8,000 and $9,000, based on the bean acreage in the state. Mike Moore did take the opportunity to thank the Bean Commission for funding fixed costs of the Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery. Pam Jackson asked if slow darkening beans were going to be the end of the quality commercial bean advantage that Wyoming has had over other production areas such as North Dakota. Jeff said that some commercial customers do not want slow darkening beans, so there will always be a market for bright, conventional variety beans, but noted that slow darkening beans are certainly impacting the market.
Seedstock from states with a field tolerance for bean blight
Mike shared a handout that was provided at the NW District meeting. He reiterated that there were seven fields with blight, and five of those were planted to seedstock from a northern-tier state that has a tolerance for blight in the field inspection. He also noted that five of the fields were under center pivot irrigation. One of the fields that was not planted with that seedstock was adjacent to one that was, and the blight was found in two spots on the side of the field closest to its blighted neighbor. He did say that, as usual, one field did not fit any of the expectations except that it was under a pivot, as it was miles away from the fields planted to the seedstock in question, and only had two small spots of blight found in a 150 acre field that was split into thirds. Since the district meeting, Jolene was able to obtain field inspection information that indicated the field inspector found blighted pods scattered in the field. The blighted plants are flagged by the inspector, and the grower is supposed to harvest around those plants. The same state uses the dome test, which has ranges of scoring, with a score of 0 to 4 being eligible for certification, and a score of 5 or more being ineligible. The seedstock scored a 4 in that test. Mike noted that he is not recommending a standard, but he recommends that growers communicate with their contractors if they are sensitive to using seed from a northern tier state. If that is the only seedstock of that variety available, which was the case in the example provided above, then they might ask for a field inspection report or dome test report to determine if the seed is acceptable. It was noted that it is extremely rare for seed to come to Wyoming from one of those states. It was also noted that those varieties often do well in Wyoming, and when the variety is new and seedstock is limited, there is incentive to try and make it work. Mike shared that the average field rejection for blight for the state in question is 50%, and that is with a tolerance for blight. Brent Brewer noted that he asked for a field inspection report and serology report for seed from Canada, and even though both were negative for blight, the fields planted with the seed in Wyoming had blight. Kelly Spiering moved, Anthony Spiering second, to ask the Wyoming Bean Commission to educate bean growers to the risks associated with seed from those states. Motion carried. Jim Heithholt offered to help with educational efforts.
Proposal to change the tolerance for dirt in dry beans from 0.50% to 0.05%
This proposal is a motion from the NW District meeting. Jeff Chapman, Kelly Bean, stated that he has had complaints on Wyoming seed two years in a row because of dirt. He noted that the first complaint was from a customer using a vacuum planter. He said that quality was the issue, and that customers are usually done with seed from that source after a single bad experience. He said that while electric eyes can get dirt out, he noted that there are also magnetic belts that address the issue. ADM has an internal standard of 0.05% dirt, and has had that standard for years. They have been able to meet it. The more dirt that comes in with the seed, the greater the challenge and likelihood of seed loss, but it can be done even in extreme situations. Pat Brownfield, ADM, shared that Canada is considering a zero tolerance for dirt in seed beans due to concerns over the potential to import plant pests in dirt. Idaho’s standard for dirt in certified bean seed is 0.05%. Brent Brewer, Treasure Valley Seed, noted that Idaho and Wyoming are not the same, with different soils and different harvest techniques. In Idaho, most beans are cut with a swather rather than a Picket, so there is almost no dirt picked up by the combine. He said there will be more lost beans from loads with more dirt, especially if this standard is adopted. He also noted that when he gets a seed quality complaint, it is much more likely to be about split beans that have been treated than dirt. Ray Cauffman, ADM, noted that dirt became a big issue when rhizomania was a concern for the states that Wyoming seed was going to, which is when ADM adopted the tight standards they still have. At that time, they did not have electric eyes, and yet were able to meet the standard. He noted that multiple passes through cleaning equipment can hurt germination, especially on black beans and navy beans. The need to change the standard for everyone was asked, and it was noted that the ADM internal standard gave them a market advantage if they want to pursue it. Customers that are have expectations of low dirt presence can get seed from suppliers who are committed to that. Lynn Preator did not support the proposal, saying that he has had very few complaints over dirt contamination, and when he has, he has made it right with the customer. Tim Anderson said that as a seed consumer, the higher dirt standard limits his variety selection to what the companies with lower dirt tolerance offer. Mike Moore asked Jeff if the customer’s issue was with seed from a specific company or if it was against Wyoming seed in general. Jeff said it was the latter. Mike noted that when he was in Oregon, wheat producers would not buy seed from Idaho due to a tolerance for wild oats, while Oregon was zero tolerance, the point being that the standard may not just impact one or two companies.When the question was asked if there was support for a standard of 0.1%, the policy passed in last year’s Membership meeting regarding motions came into question. The outcome of that discussion was that a motion from the District meeting could not be amended at this time. Kelly Spiering moved to change the dirt standard to 0.05%, with no need for a second as the proposal was in effect a motion from the district meeting. Corey Forman called for the question. Motion defeated 8 to 4.
Chickpea standards proposal
Proposed chickpea standards were on the agenda, and a handout with the proposal was provided, but due to the length of the previous discussion, the chair elected to move discussion of the proposal to the Other Crop Committee meeting later in the day.
Idaho issues with soybeans
Mike Moore shared that an impromptu conversation with Pat Brownfield made him aware of efforts in Idaho to legislatively limit counties in which soybeans can be grown. A whitepaper on the issue developed by the Idaho Bean Commission was shared with the group. Soybeans are hosts to pests such as the soybean cyst nematode, which can have a devastating impact on dry beans and sugarbeets. The nematodes are very small, and while not seed borne, they can be in soil associated with the seed. They are also hosts to the same bacterial bean diseases, and to bean rusts. Soybeans are also a common allergen, and commercial bean receivers can be sensitive to their presence in dry beans, to the point of rejecting loads. Mike noted that he had shared the issue with the Wyoming Bean Commission, and it was on their agenda for their meeting in the afternoon.
Rom Bushnesll- MET
Rom was unable to attend due to a schedule conflict, but handouts and business cards were available. He is the coordinator for a program whose goal is to make seasonal employees more valuable in the workforce. Training in areas such as welding are possible, but even English as a second language would be an option. Jolene Sweet added that he is also a resource if you need labor.
Meeting adjourned at 11:59 a.m.