August 18, 1998
by Linda McCandless
Geneva, NY - According to an Asgrow Seed baseball cap, "Beans Are A Blast!" Not only that: high in fiber, low in calories, and zero fat. But, where does the grower or the processor wearing the cap get advice on which varieties are best to plant?
Some of the answers come from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES), in Geneva, NY. There, researchers run variety trials to test seed, rating it for yield, taste, texture, color, appearance, uniformity, pest resistance, and process-ability.
The results of this year's sweet corn and bean trials will be presented at NYSAES in Geneva, on Tuesday, August 18, during the Sixth Annual Processing Sweet Corn and Snap Bean Field Day. Researchers will lead tours of bean and corn trials and present information on varieties, culture, and pest control.
The event is hosted by Stephen Reiners, Assistant Professor in Horticultural Sciences, and Jim Ballerstein, Research Support Specialist.
Over 125 processors, seed company representatives, growers, extension agents, faculty and others are expected to attend, including industry reps from Asgrow, Novartis, Harris Moran, Crookham, Agrilink, Erlemeir's, and Strathroy Foods. They will join extension agents and Experiment Station personnel as well as Ontario growers and members of the Pennsylvania vegetable research board.
"It has been a very strange year across the country," said Reiners. "As far as agribusiness is concerned, the issues are weather and weeds. We'll be very interested in updates from the processors regarding the seed supply for 1999." Much of the corn and bean seed is produced in Idaho; wet weather there in the spring is expected to affect the supply and the price of next year's supply.
Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Vegetable Research Farm , and the tour begins at 1 p.m. Snap beans are featured from 1-3:00 p.m. and sweet corn from 3-5:00 p.m. The agenda is as follows:
1:00-3:00 pm Snap Bean Trials
Nitrogen and Calcium Work with Snap Beans: Steve Reiners and Cindy Cowan
Phosphorus Fertilizer: How it influences root growth of snap beans: Thomas Bjorkman
Bean Root Diseases: Comparison of different varieties: George Abawi
Insect Update: Which insects have been wreaking havoc: Dale Webb
Processing Variety Trials: Plant and pod characteristics: Jim Ballerstein
3:00-5:00 pm Sweet Corn Trials
Disease Update: Helene Dillard and Ann Cobb
Selective Insecticides to Minimize Killing of Beneficials: Bill Wilsey
Processing Variety Trials: Plant and ear characteristics: Jim Ballerstein
The tour concludes at 5:00 p.m. with a social hour and dinner at the Pavilion behind Jordan Hall, followed by the annual Ag-Business round table discussion.
For more information or to register, call Jim Ballerstein at 315-787-2223, or Steve Reiners at 315-787-2311.
Note to Editors: For 300 ppi graphics files, click on above images.
Contact: Linda McCandless, Communications Services
Telephone: (315) 787-2417
e-mail: llm3@cornell.edu
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