By Marlene Fritz (208/364-4010 in Boise)

BOISE, Idaho–Idaho bean growers can get a close-up view of exciting new bean germplasm and a heads-up on current challenges confronting the bean industry when the University of Idaho and the Idaho Bean Commission co-sponsor the 1999 Bean Field Day Aug. 20 at the Kimberly Research and Extension Center.

Participants will see new stocks of advanced bean lines and cultivars from around North America and in the university’s Foundation Seed Program. They will find out how old and new beans have fared under continual cropping, how different cultivars respond to water stress and mineral deficiency, and which new strategies offer the most promise for disease and weed control.

Besides touring research plots, visitors will have an opportunity to interact with university and industry bean experts and to see informative displays and posters.

Lunch will be sponsored by Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Novartis, American Cyanamid, BASF and Zeneca.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The program will follow at 8:45 a.m. and conclude at about 2 p.m. The Kimberly Research and Extension Center is located 5 miles east of Twin Falls on Kimberly Road. For more information, call Shree Singh at (208) 423-6609.