UK: Benefits of beans highlighted as growing areas drop

Several factors are behind the reported fall in the area of beans grown, according to the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO). Defra’s agricultural land use statistics show that the cropping area for field beans is down from 208,154ha to 131,718ha. A drop of 37%. Last year’s wet conditions impacted drilling for many, with spring work also being challenging, leading to some abandoning the crop altogether. Options within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) have also displaced some break crops within rotations. “After a difficult year and harvest, it’s no surprise that many farmers have turned to the SFI – farmers need to do what’s best for their business and we agree that they should be paid for providing positive environmental outcomes,” says PGRO CEO Roger Vickers. “The fall in area is unlikely to be as significant as is being reported – because pulses are such a small sample size, Defra acknowledges that accuracy is extremely difficult. “However, we remain ...