While few would dare say it, many growers were thankful of the thundery conditions experienced towards the end of last week. Crops, particularly in the south, were in need of moistures and this need was elevated in crops that were sown in cloddy seedbeds and had poor emergence.

Spring beans

Provisional figures indicate that the area sown under spring beans this year is back close to 5,000 acres to around 7,000 area. However, this figure is likely to be revised down further when the final figures are released due to late amendments in BPS applications. With this in mind, the protein payments should prove stronger than in recent years.

Beans are at various stages of growth. The earliest crops are beginning to flower.

Beans are at various stages of growth. The earliest crops are beginning to flower. While disease pressure has been low this year, chocolate spot and downey mildew may yet prove to be an issue.

Chocolate spot

Apply a preventative spray for Botrytis (chocolate spot) at the start of flowering. The disease can appear all-year round so apply another spray around two to three weeks later. Apply either Signum (0.5-0.75 kg/ha) or Amistar/Globaztar (0.5 l/ha), plus Fezan/Riza (0.75 l/ha), Rover 500 (2.0 l/ha) or Fezan Plus (4.0 l/ha). Remember, over 500 is the only straight Chlorothalonil product cleared for use on beans in 2018.

Downey mildew

Treat downy mildew with mancozeb just at the start of flowering as this has mainly protective properties. Containing metlyaxyl, Ridomil Gold offers some curative.

Ridomil Gold, along with Dithane 945 and Dithane Dry Flowable, contain mancozeb and have off-label clearance for use on beans in 2018.

Weed control

Some of the later-sown crops are still awaiting a mop-up weed spray. As pre-emergence options are gone, the only post-emergence broadleaved weed option left is Basagran. However, this has a narrow window of application to get the best effects.

There are still a number of grassweed control options and Teagasc suggests that beans in particular offer an ideal opportunity to control grassweeds in the rotation.

  • Fusilade Max: 1.0 – 3.0 l/ha (from second node stage but before first flower bud visible).
  • Stratos Ultra: 1.5-4.0 l/ha (from two leaves of the crop until the canopy prevents adequate spray penetration). Good option for scutch and grass weeds.
  • Falcon: 0.7 – 1.5 l/ha (from 2 leaves of the crop until before flower bud is visible).
  • Pests

    Weevil damage continues to cause a problem but as beans develop, the risk diminishes. Where damage is very evident, consider an insecticide such as Decis, Karate, Karis, Lambda, etc.

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    Monday management: weed control in beet