10 October 2024

Update on Beans

Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Tillage Specialist, gives us an update on beans, and says a decent dry spell is needed to harvest the remainder of this years bean crop.

Harvesting spring beans this year is proving to be very challenging. While it is hard to determine an exact figure, estimates suggest that only 10% of the crop remains unharvested in some areas while up to 50% of this year’s crop remains unharvested in other areas. The primary issue is late crop maturity due to delayed sowing. Many crops have not yet reached full maturity, with green stems and pods still visible in some fields. Even where crops are mature, it is difficult to get moisture down low enough to harvest.

Despite the late season, yields have remained strong this year. Cooler than usual weather in June supported crop development, and there was sufficient soil moisture during the crucial flowering period to sustain good pod numbers. A large proportion of the harvested crops have yielded between 5.0 and 6.5t/ha. However, high moisture could be a factor is some of the higher yielding crops.

Farmers will take every opportunity to harvest at this stage, as there is a danger than one years delayed harvest may prevent and autumn crop being sown. Consult you grain merchant before you harvest if moisture is high. 

The area of spring beans hit a record area in 2024 at 17,604ha planted this spring. Guaranteed income from the increased protein payment was a major incentive in a late spring when farmers were running out of cropping options.

The budget for the Protein aid Scheme 2024 is €7m but the final rate/ha will not be set until the area of the eligible crops (beans, peas, lupins, soya and the protein/cereal mix crop (50% rate)) is fully determined. Payment normally happens in December.  The crop area for 2024 (Web Crop Areas June 2024 – subject to change).

• Beans Spring 17,604 ha
• Beans Winter 541 ha
• Peas 931 ha
• Lupins 22 ha
• Soyabean –
• 100% Protein 25 ha
• Protein/cereal mix crop 2,721 ha (50% rate)