11/28/06 Idaho bean seed, here or there

The Idaho Bean Commission and Farm Bureau have been working for years to open new markets for bean seed. They looked to Mexico where trials on Idaho bean seed are now taking place. University of Idaho Foundation Seed Manager Kathy Stewart Williams saw evidence of some Idaho seed in September when she was in Mexico. STEWART WILLIAMS "For this little growing region and I saw different several seed dealers who had their bags of Idaho certified seed out along with their corn and alfalfa seed and they were promoting the fact that they sell Idaho certified seed. Stewart Williams has been to Mexico several times this year to inspect the different growing fields where Idaho seed was planted. There is still some reluctance to using Idaho seed for Mexican bean production or Mexico may want varieties not currently grown in Idaho. STEWART WILLIAMS "So if these varieties are not what they think they need send us their seed. You know we can do a seed increase for them here in Idaho and send them that high quality disease free seed." The final proof on Idaho bean seed will be in the harvest numbers and that's expected to come from the Mexican field tests in mid-December. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott