MICHIGAN DRY BEANS: IT'S IN THE CAN
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EmailMSU Bean Breeding and Genetics program hosts Bush Brothers and Company food processors for dry bean production intensive short-course
Amid a search for a lead faculty member in the Bean Breeding and Genetics program, PSM staff and faculty hosted the program Dry Beans: From Pod to Process for Bush Bros and Company-- a major canning partner for Michigan farmers.
Members of Bush Brothers Beans executive team visited the bean breeding facilities at MSU to interact with breeding professionals, to:
• Improve organizational competencies in agricultural production within S&T and across Bush Brothers
• Enhance quality and innovation based on production and handling of dry beans, issues and trends
• Create ambassadors for the complexities of supply of dry beans for Bush Brothers’ products.
"We have hosted other processors, Scott Bales said. "But this event is much greater in scope than we have done for others.” This training demonstrates a comprehensive response to the MSU dry bean breeding program stakeholder requests/requirements including the Processors’ needs for communication and integration, committed to superior quality products, including thorough training to help align needs and expectations for Michigan dry beans, Scott said.
In this program, Dr. Cichy and staff covered the basics of dry bean breeding and variety development and Evan Wright discussed the Dry Bean Breeding and Genetics Program.
Halima Awale demonstrated disease Screening and Dry Bean Crossing, and encouraged them to try it. Though the season is passed for bean flowers, Halima and her team grew these plants specially for this activity.
PHOTO KAREN RENNER LECTURE
Dr. Karen Renner showed the group how dry beans fit into the basic principals of MSU’s crop and soil science program, including row crop production combined with climate resilience and sustainability. Also in this session, Dr. Miranda Haus (horticulture) offered a plant science primer –photosynthesis, respiration, nutrient use and uptake.
PHOTO: JOE CRAMER (left) and Scott Bales
The group toured facilities at MSU including the agronomy farm, and the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth.
