Saginaw Valley Beet and Bean Research Farm Overview
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The Saginaw Valley Dry Bean and Beet Research Station's main work consists of developing varieties that are suitable to the region. The station sits on 180 acres - 120 of the acres are owned by industry and rented back to the University. As in real estate, it's all about location when it comes to production.

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Beans, Beans the Numerical Fruit
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The dry bean industry is big business in Michigan. Annually, growers receive between $75 to 100 million dollars for their navies, blacks, pintos and kidneys. One project being studied at the Saginaw Valley Dry Bean and Beet research farm involves insecticide. For the past five years, researchers have been using a bean insecticide as a seed treatment on all of the dry beans.

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Direct Harvest of Beans
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The Saginaw Valley Bean and Beet Research Farm is Michigan State University's major testing location for the development of navy, black, pinto, great northern, red and pink beans. These medium seeded materials perform much better on the finer textured, heavier-clay soils.

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Weed Control in Sugar Beets
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Researchers at the Saginaw Valley Bean and Beet Research farm are looking at weed management systems for weed control in sugar beets. They're looking at different methods and types of control. Growers view weed management as one of their toughest issues in sugar beets.

Flash | Windows Media