News & Events

Seminis Beans Give Growers Consistent Results

Seminis bean breeder Ken Kmiecik’s goal is to produce new varieties with improved disease resistance, increased yield and enhanced performance characteristics. And most importantly, Kmiecik breeds beans that produce consistent yields across a broad geographical area.

“Our goal is to produce beans that have consistency over years and over locations,” Kmiecik said. “In the eastern United States, we have growers that produce over a large geographic region in different type of soils, ranging from sandy to muck. Providing them with new bean varieties that produce consistent yields under these conditions is key to what we do at Seminis.”

One of the latest beans to come from Kmiecik’s program is Valentino. A dark-green bean, Valentino brings together all the characteristics that growers in the eastern United States need to be successful.

“Valentino provides growers with very consistent yields,” Kmiecik said. “It’s a very attractive bean that produces uniform, straight pods that average 5.5 inches in length. In the box, Valentino is a very elegant product.”

Valentino’s dark-green pods are well-positioned on the plant to facilitate mechanical harvest. Growers can count on Valentino to provide more useable product at harvest time. It also sets well in hot conditions and offers resistance to bean common mosaic virus and intermediate resistance to rust, race 38.

“Our customers in the eastern United States, from Florida to New England, all seem to be very pleased with the performance of Valentino,” said Rusty Autry, a Seminis sales representative.

In the wake of Valentino’s success, Kmiecik’s work continues from his base in DeForest, Wisc. Kmiecik runs six major breeding trials throughout the eastern United States each year. New bean varieties that show commercial promise are then trialed in conjunction with the Seminis Technology Development team throughout the region. In a year, the team typically conducts 30-40 regional bean trials.

Regional trials are conducted in grower fields under their conditions so that each new variety can be evaluated for regional adaptability. Being able to work closely with growers during the regional trials, has a great impact on Kmiecik’s breeding program.

“Working directly with growers keeps me aware of their needs,” Kmiecik said. “I can take the information from these trials back to Wisconsin with me and work toward creating even better materials to ensure their success.”