Swap maize for field beans for protein

At the moment, the prices of protein are sky-high. Growing protein yourself and buying less can therefore be a very interesting item. The ration is changing, with soy partly making way for field beans.

Sander Vijverberg is a dairy farmer in Strijen (ZH) and a participant in the Boerenbusiness Roughage tour. This year, Vijverberg has opted to grow its own protein with field beans. The acreage consists of 7 hectares of winter field beans and 4 hectares of summer field beans. Initially, the intention was to only produce winter field beans. However, due to the significant price increase this spring, Vijverberg has also decided to exchange part of his maize acreage for summer field beans. It is the second season that Vijverberg grows the field beans. Vijverberg looks back very positively on the first season, where a good yield was achieved.

Vijverberg crushes the field beans and then feeds them through the mixed ration. In the ration, part of the soy is replaced by the field beans. This is also where Vijverberg believes that the product's strength lies. Suppress the soy price increase by growing your own protein crop.

Winter field beans versus summer field beans
The winter field beans and summer field beans differ in the amount of harvested product and the time of sowing. Winter field beans are sown in the fall and summer field beans in the spring. The biggest difference is ultimately the yield. The winter field beans produce an average of 7 tons of yield, compared to 5 tons per hectare for summer field beans. Vijverberg has monitored the development by measuring the length of the crop. These are shown in the table below.

Vijverberg's measurements show that the crop of winter field beans is much more developed than that of summer field beans. At this time the blossom in the winter field beans comes and the pollination takes place.

Right timing
For winter field beans, the right time to sow is very important. When the crop enters the winter too high, the blossom in the spring has developed too quickly. In early spring there are too few bees for pollination, which has a negative influence on pod setting. This leads to lower yields. Crop protection is also something that needs to be closely monitored. Chocolate spot disease reduces photosynthesis and therefore does not promote growth. Also lice and caterpillars should not get the upper hand and should be combated. 

Harvest time is crucial
Harvesting the field beans is one of the most difficult parts of cultivation. At Vijverberg, a combine is used to harvest the beans as a product. If the pod is not properly ripe, the bean will not come out properly. But when the pod is too ripe, the bean falls out too quickly and you lose it. In both cases, this results in yield losses. A correct harvest time is therefore crucial. Vijverberg stores the beans in cubic boxes containing a big bag. In this way, the beans are well preserved and the surface can be used efficiently.

Reuben van der Maas

Intern at the Boerenbusiness Roughage tour

r.vandermaas@boerenbusiness. Nl

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