Research

For more than 40 years,
Northarvest has provided extensive research funding.

In July 2018, Northarvest budgeted $289,853 for research that includes:

  • Dry edible bean disease research
  • Dry bean improvement for the Northern plains
  • Evaluation of selected plant establishment factors and nutrition treatments in dry beans
  • Precision planting of dry edible beans
  • Soybean Cyst Nematode resistance in dry bean cultivars and breeding material
  • Improving white mold management in dry beans
  • North Dakota dry edible bean variety trials
  • Dry bean grower survey of pest problems, pesticide use and varieties

Grower Driven Research

This year, the Northarvest Bean Growers Association’s Research Committee took a hands-on approach to steer research
that will make a difference for bean production. Rather than asking researchers to submit proposals, the Committee met to discuss their research needs with North Dakota State University agronomists and crop consultants. Following the meeting, a list of research priorities were sent to 32 scientists as a guideline to receiving a request for research proposal. The priority list can be found in the Northarvest BeanGrower Magazine Summer 2018 Volume 24, Issue 4 on page 18.

2018 Northarvest Research Finding Survey

More than 25 percent of the growers who responded to the 2017 dry bean grower survey reported that water damage (beans harvested) as the most significant dry bean production problem in 2017. Drought and weeds were ranked as the next biggest production problem. Nearly 80 percent of growers surveyed said they direct harvested which has almost doubled from 2016. Forty-one percent of the respondents reported harvesting all of their beans direct. For the first time, the survey included questions about dicamba drift injury and whether it will affect growers’ future planting intentions. Ninety-six percent of survey respondents said the risk of potential injury from dicamba drift may prevent them from planting dry beans in 2018.

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance took their message to Congress in May, advocating for investment in specialty crops in the 2018 Farm Bill. One of the major items is the need for additional resources for specialty crop research. It is recommended that the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) receive $105 million in research funding annually to provide the necessary resources to keep speciality crops competitive.

USDA | National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 18 new grants totaling $48 million to develop high-tech solutions that meet the needs of U.S. farmers and producers. Funding is made through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. To date, this program has invested more than $400 million in research.

USDA | North Dakota Department of Agriculture | NDSU

In 2018, the USDA announced the investment of nearly $103 million to expand markets for local food promotion and specialty crops. More than $72 million of the total has been distributed to state departments of agriculture for the Specialty Block Grant Program. North Dakota received $3 million while Minnesota received $1.4 million. North Dakota awarded 25 speciality crop grants to NDSU and the North Dakota Trade Office. NDSU will receive $671,733 in grant money, specifically for dry edible bean research projects.

Research & Production Information

Cultivar & Genetic Information

Weeds, Crop Insect & Disease

Crop Production Publications

Northarvest Dry Bean Research Update