Visited the fine folks at Eagle seed last week. Nice weather and a nice drive. For the last few years, they have custom mixed our fall and spring seed blends. Eagle seed now offers custom mixing for those who are interested...either check FB or their web page for more detail.
After the fall blend was loaded, Brad took me for the usual tour of the farm and visit to their variety test plots. Yes, they actually develop and test new varieties on a local farm. Thought I would share some pics with you.
Some folks have expressed interest in non-RR or non-GMO forage beans in the recent past. For decades, no improvements or new releases were made in non-GMO forage soybean varieties because of the overwhelming popularity of the RR trait. Old conventional cultivars were bought and used instead. Times have changed and interest in non-GMO (conventional) soybeans has resurged. The new varieties from Eagle will have improved plant traits compared to old cultivars.
Both varieties below are top selections of non-GMO (conventional) forage soybeans from the Eagle Seed soybean breeding program. They are NEW genetics from multiple crossing of parent plants over the last several years. They are NOT old varieties renamed and rebagged. They have NO resistance to Round-Up herbicide (ie non-RR beans), which means no money is paid to Monsanto as royalty and lower seed cost than RR beans for the buyer.
Each variety is planted in a plot of about 2 ac in size. This size of plot is used to increase the amount of seed for a field scale planting (should be enough seed for 30 ac planting next summer) and the plot is also used to further purify the variety (off-types are removed from the plot before harvest). Marketable quantities of this seed should be available for 2018.
This is a white flowered non-GMO tawny bean....roughly 7.5 maturity (about the same as Large Lad and Big Fellow). This is a high leaf area index variety considering both immature and mature leaf size, rate of leaf development and internode length. Leaf size is equivalent to Big Fellow.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3872_zpskmhystim.jpg&hash=7dd342642d93bb521951ceda54dda331)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3866_zpsj2a1m4iu.jpg&hash=47457a45e0c5ac27533dc20a075a3dac)
The taller bean in background of first pic above is a purple flowered non-GMO red bean. Close-ups are below. It is a maturity 6 bean. Faster maturing so already has pod development. It is a very tall type which may have a viney tendency. Leaf area index is comparable to Large Lad. The faster maturity of this type should increase the northern range of adaptability for this forage soybean to set pods...time will tell the range of acclimation.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3868_zpsc0mfwlvr.jpg&hash=9bf12ab55623a7e94711d1552cc8c3bd)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3870_zpsq16txuzg.jpg&hash=f90fad7e353539a39b4df991ac93b594)
Tawny, tan and red refer to the hair color on the stems and pods of the plant. Each variety will continue growing and setting seed until frost or other termination. I am 5'9" tall for reference.
After the fall blend was loaded, Brad took me for the usual tour of the farm and visit to their variety test plots. Yes, they actually develop and test new varieties on a local farm. Thought I would share some pics with you.
Some folks have expressed interest in non-RR or non-GMO forage beans in the recent past. For decades, no improvements or new releases were made in non-GMO forage soybean varieties because of the overwhelming popularity of the RR trait. Old conventional cultivars were bought and used instead. Times have changed and interest in non-GMO (conventional) soybeans has resurged. The new varieties from Eagle will have improved plant traits compared to old cultivars.
Both varieties below are top selections of non-GMO (conventional) forage soybeans from the Eagle Seed soybean breeding program. They are NEW genetics from multiple crossing of parent plants over the last several years. They are NOT old varieties renamed and rebagged. They have NO resistance to Round-Up herbicide (ie non-RR beans), which means no money is paid to Monsanto as royalty and lower seed cost than RR beans for the buyer.
Each variety is planted in a plot of about 2 ac in size. This size of plot is used to increase the amount of seed for a field scale planting (should be enough seed for 30 ac planting next summer) and the plot is also used to further purify the variety (off-types are removed from the plot before harvest). Marketable quantities of this seed should be available for 2018.
This is a white flowered non-GMO tawny bean....roughly 7.5 maturity (about the same as Large Lad and Big Fellow). This is a high leaf area index variety considering both immature and mature leaf size, rate of leaf development and internode length. Leaf size is equivalent to Big Fellow.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3872_zpskmhystim.jpg&hash=7dd342642d93bb521951ceda54dda331)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3866_zpsj2a1m4iu.jpg&hash=47457a45e0c5ac27533dc20a075a3dac)
The taller bean in background of first pic above is a purple flowered non-GMO red bean. Close-ups are below. It is a maturity 6 bean. Faster maturing so already has pod development. It is a very tall type which may have a viney tendency. Leaf area index is comparable to Large Lad. The faster maturity of this type should increase the northern range of adaptability for this forage soybean to set pods...time will tell the range of acclimation.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3868_zpsc0mfwlvr.jpg&hash=9bf12ab55623a7e94711d1552cc8c3bd)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn30%2Fdgallow%2FProject%25202016%2FIMG_3870_zpsq16txuzg.jpg&hash=f90fad7e353539a39b4df991ac93b594)
Tawny, tan and red refer to the hair color on the stems and pods of the plant. Each variety will continue growing and setting seed until frost or other termination. I am 5'9" tall for reference.