One new variety has been added to the spring bean seed area for the year ahead.

Callas takes up 12% of the seed area, along with Protina at 23% and Lynx at 65%.

This is the second year in a row to see a new variety available to growers. Protina joined the recommended list last year. Caprice and Victus will no longer be available.

Callas is a variety suited to human food production due to its low vicine/convicine (LVC) levels.

Vicine and convicine can cause hemolytic anaemia in some people who have G6PD deficiency. This sounds complicated, but basically these types of varieties could help to promote the future use of bean protein in food ingredients and so create new markets for Irish farmers. High-protein foods are now extremely popular.

Beans at the Goldcrop arable crops open days on the farm of John Dunne, Shanagarry, Co Cork. \ Donal O'Leary

It is also suited to monogastric animal feed due to its LVC trait. Victus is a variety some growers may have had in the past with this trait.

In the fields, Callas is reported to have good early vigour and is shorter than other varieties available.

In 2024, Goldcrop reported that it was about 10cm shorter than the other varieties.

Growers really do have good options when it comes to beans. They have become well used to Lynx and its consistency on yield and those who went with Protina are happy. Its high protein content makes it attractive for mills, while its strong stalks make it a winner in the field.

See Figure 1 for current seed areas for crops in 2026.

Markets

Speaking at Seedtech’s open day, Tim O’Donovan noted that protein area has fallen in the UK.

This is likely due to bruchid beetle risks and a movement to environmental schemes. He noted that this could be an opportunity for Irish protein, as there could be markets for export. He outlined the Mediterranean as one of those areas.

Advantages of beans

The protein payment is a big advantage to growers growing these crops, but the improvement to the soil with strong roots, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and straw return all help to benefit the yield of the following crop.

Consistent yields have also helped incomes from the crop and they can be grown at relatively low cost and introduce direct drilling into the rotation in some cases to reduce workload at planting.

You can read more on cereal, bean and oilseed rape varieties in a varieties focus in this week's Irish Farmers Journal newspaper and online.