Strong domestic and export demand, combined with prices some 50 per cent above 2009 levels, make beans an attractive short- and long-term spring cropping option for UK growers, according to Limagrain UK.

The UK’s largest plant breeder said demand is strong for the product and prices reflect the overall increases in commodity prices.

Limagrain UK’s Les Daubney said: “Beans for human consumption and premium export markets usually command a £10-£20 per tonne premium over feed samples, depending on supply and demand. Last year there were fears that the French government’s decision to pay its pea and bean growers an additional €150/ha over and above the existing €56/ha protein subsidy might adversely affect our traditional export markets, but it had no apparent impact either in terms of demand for UK-produced beans or the prices paid to farmers.

“With prices currently close to £200 per tonne we anticipate that spring beans will continue to prove a financially and agronomically attractive crop to grow, particularly on heavy land. They can be sown early, are a low-input crop, provide a valuable source of residual nitrogen, help in the increasingly difficult and costly battle to control blackgrass and spread the harvest, all of which add significantly to their overall value as a crop, and to the rotation. Given the high prices that are currently available for wheat, growers may be looking to maximise their first-wheat acreage next autumn and the sound rotational benefits that spring beans provide make them one of the best- available entries.”

Limagrain UK offers two “very strong” spring bean varieties - Fuego and Pyramid.

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