Dry Edible Bean “Alternative” Harvest Demonstrations

Updated: October 13, 2008

The University of Nebraska and the Nebraska Dry Bean Growers Association will co-sponsor several demonstrations of “alternative” harvest systems for dry edible beans during the 2008 harvest season. Each demonstration will be in a grower field using full scale harvest equipment and will be scheduled at the best time of day, and when the crop is in the right stage for the particular harvest system.

The date and time of each demonstration will depend on when the crop and field at each site are optimum for harvest. For the most up-to-date information, check this web site regularly.

NOTE: To make sure you're seeing the most up-to-date information, look for a current updated date at the top of the page, or else click the "refresh page" button in your browser.

It is hoped that the scheduled dates can be announced about a week in advance. This site will be updated weekly until September 1, and daily thereafter with the latest information on locations, dates, times, and what harvest equipment will be demonstrated.

This information also is available by calling the Panhandle Center (308-632-1230) between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm MDT, Monday through Friday.

The goal is to show how alternative harvest systems are performing. Some demonstrations will include the equipment and cropping system the producer is using. Several others will include equipment provided by the manufacturer or dealer, or equipment used by the University of Nebraska. In most demonstrations we will not run different equipment side-by-side, and we will not be taking precise harvest loss measurements. These demonstrations are intended for you to observe and form your own thoughts.

The following demonstrations are planned:

Lyman, NE area, Curtis Cloud swathing demonstration:

Equipment/Crop: Curtis has a half pivot with two varieties of pintos planted in 7-inch rows that will be swathed with a MacDon swather provided by Stateline Bean Cooperative. This field has very good crop growth and should be ideal for swathing.

• Date: Wednesday morning, Oct. 15. (weather permitting; please watch for updates)
• Time: 7:30 a.m.
• Location: At the west edge of Lyman on Hwy 92, turn south on CR 2 and the pivot is in the southwest corner of this intersection.

University of Nebraska, Panhandle Research and Extension Center Demonstration

CANCELLED.

Demonstration Follow Up

We have recorded video footage of the equipment operation at several of the alternative harvest demonstrations held this fall, and we collected harvest data at most of the sites. As time allows, we will post the data and have the equipment operation videos on this site. Please check the site at a later date.