HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-16, Page 61Using fava beans as
a source of protein
by Simon Defter
In 1991 I set out to find an alter-
native protein source which would
be adaptable to a style of fanning
in which I can be a good steward of
all the resources available. For the
past three years fava beans have
filled that need.
The fava bean (also called faba,
horse, bell, or tick beans), are
botanically known as Vicia faba
minor. An annual legume with a
stout tap root, it can fix more
nitrogen in two months than any
other crop, as long as the soil
temperature is below 60 degrees F.
Fava beans fix approximately 150
to 220 lbs./acre. (The extensive
nodules on the roots shows why it
does this so well,) Plant them as
early as possible, since light frosts
won't hurt the young plants. Favas
are usually the fust thing I plant.
My first step was to multiply my
initial two acres of seed. Since then
I have continued to use my own
seed each year, although I have
begun selecting from food varieties.
This is to find a larger bean.
With a planting rate of 150-200
Ibs./acre, most weeds cannot com-
pete - especially since no fertilizer
is required. (I do apply 50 Ibs./acre
of soft rock phosphate.) For plan-
ting I use a grain drill. Shortly after
planting until harvest in late August
- early September, a dense, dark
green crop grows. Plants are usually
four to five feet high, (six to seven
feet in '92). Flowers begin at the
two feet mark, and form in clusters.
The pods, ctusis eteel—and pointing
upward, turn black before harvest.
The first two years I swathed.
This year I swathed some, and
straight combined the rest with a
scour clean. The end result 1.5 to
2.0 tons/acre of beans dry enough
to store right off the combine. The
beans are fed by putting 150 lbs. in
each load of corn silage (approx. 5
- 6 T). Grain rations are also sup-
plemented with rolled beans.
My overall observations and the
resul s of feed tests have been
positive. With no early frost wor-
ries, favas mean early planting, and
early harvesting. Although I haven't
tried it, I think they would make a
good cover crop after spring grains,
in combination with oil radish or
rye perhaps. So far I've used them
after corn and grain, and before '
winter wheat.
Favas can be grown without
chemicals. The seed isn't expensive.
No processing of the bean is re-
quired other than rolling or putting
through a hammermill. They have
an amino acid balance that
compliments small grains. When
measured on its own, favalage for
the silo provided 17% protein on a
D.M. basis. It was mixed with 2nd
cut alfalfa this past year, where the
'wet' favalage and dry alfalfa work
well together. The beans themselves
provide a 1:4 CaPhos ratio and low
soluble protein, around the 30%
mark.
I would be grateful for any advice
to improve what I've done. I'm also
willing to be of help to anyone
interested in seed to multiply out
for themselves. (From the
Ecological fanners Association of
Ontario Newsletter.)
Gerald Poechman will sit
on advisory committee
A Bruce County farmer was
one of 15 appointed to the
Advisory Committee on Rural
Development.
Gerald Poechman, of R.R. 2
Walkerton, is the owner of a
500 -acre organic family farm.
He is an agricultural business
graduate of Centralia College, an
editorial advisor and contributor
to the Rural Voice magazine,
and is president of the Board of
Directors of OntarBio Co-op, as
well as founding member and
past chairperson of the Queen's
Bush Rural Ministries.
Poechman is a member of
several committees, including the
boards of directors of Rural
Connections II and the Bruce
County Federation of Agricul-
ture. He introduced Catholic
Rural Life to Hamilton Diocese.
Poechman has extensive
teaching, training and leadership
experience, and is involved with
community supported agriculture
on a family farm as well as with
the local food banks.
The committee members, ap-
pointed by Ontario Minister of
Agriculture and Food Elmer
Buchanan, are working at
reviewing existing rural
development issues and
initiatives and making recom-
mendations.
"The committee will help us
obtain and review rural develop-
ment ideas from different
perspectives," says Buchanan,
who chairs the committee.
The creation of the Advisory
Committee was announced last
year after the Rural Develop-
ment Secretariat was established.
It concerns itself with rural
development issues and acts as
sounding board to the Minister
of Agriculture and . Food on
topics including: identification of
provincial, regional and local
rural development issues; recom-
mendation of priorities for policy
and program development;
evaluation of the progress of
rural development initiatives and
provision of a link among rural
development networks.
Ira
Farm Progress '94 -Pepe 43
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