The eligible crop breakdown for 2021 is as follows: spring beans- 593.17ha; spring peas – 47.233ha; winter beans – 23.17ha; spring sweet lupins – 15.7ha.
Morrow spoke at recent CAFRE webinar. He confirmed that 10 of the 80 farms submitting successful applications had received an inspection, adding:No anomalies were found. All the crops inspected were growing well with only minor adjustments made where submitted acreages are concerned.”
Protein crop scheme
The protein scheme has an annual support budget of £330,000, covering up to 1,000ha. Significantly, Morrow confirmed that the underspend of 2021 will not be added to the budget available next year. Looking ahead, he said: “The scheme will continue into 2022 with an available budget of £330,000. If more than 1,000ha are determined as eligible, then a linear scale back will be applied.Payment will be made on the scaled back area. Forage crops, including alfalfa and lucerne are not eligible aid under the protein scheme."The webinar also provided CAFRE agronomist Leigh McClean to discuss the pre-harvest management of spring beans and the reasons why farmers might wish to grow this specific crop in the first place. Where this latter point is concerned, McClean highlighted a number of issues including the role of beans within a crop rotation and their ability to spread risk within a business. “Being able to get beans harvested successfully is a key question that potential growers must ask themselves. Finding a market for the crop before they establish a crop is also important,” he said. Where pre-harvest management of beans is concerned, the CAFRE agronomist explained that desiccation should be considered when either of the following three issues come into play: the possibility of a late harvest; a crop is not ripening uniformly; and, if late emerging weeds have become a problem: “As bean crops mature, leaves fall off the plants. This provides the opportunity for a flush of late summer weeds to develop," he added.
Drying options include the range of techniques available for cereals. However, note should be taken of the much greater seed size, where beans are concerned."“Crimping and propcorning represent another storage option. Piles of untreated beans should be moved on a daily basis to prevent the over-heating of the crop. “Ammonia-based products have not been specifically licensed for the storage of beans. However, this matter should be taken up with the specific manufacturers or their representatives,” McClean concluded.
