Two varieties feature within the recommended list of spring beans for 2026, recently published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Lynx is a good yielding, moderately early maturing variety with good protein content.

It has an average yield index of 100.

The variety has good resistance to brackling and very good lodging resistance. It has moderate resistance to chocolate spot and good resistance to downy mildew.

Lynx is moderately susceptible to rust.

Protina is a good yielding, early maturing variety with high protein content. It has an average yield index of 100.

The variety has good resistance to brackling and very good resistance to lodging. It has moderate resistance to chocolate spot and rust.

Protina has good resistance to downy mildew.

Provisionally recommended for 2026 is Callas, with a yield profile of 99%.

It is a good yielding, early maturing variety with good protein content. It has moderate resistance to brackling and very good resistance to lodging.

The variety has moderate resistance to chocolate spot and rust and has good resistance to downy mildew.

Significantly, the breeder of this variety claims it is low in the anti-nutritional compounds vicine and convicine.

Spring beans

DAFM evaluated a total of 16 spring bean varieties in 2025.

Beans represent an excellent break crop on all tillage farms. They do not need any fertiliser nitrogen (N) as they are legumes and fix atmospheric N for growth purposes.

The sparing effect on soil N, and the availability of N from decaying roots, boosts the yield and reduces the fertiliser N requirement of the following crop.

According to Teagasc, spring bean yields have averaged 5.4t/ha over the past decade.

The availability of the Protein Aid Scheme adds to the profitability of the crop.

Early sowing during the period mid-February to mid-March is important to maximise yields, as late planting can lead to difficult harvest conditions later in the year.

Tillage margins

Teagasc’s 2026 ‘Costs and Returns’ booklet will be published over the coming days. It will feature a projected margin for all spring and autumn tillage crops grown and harvested in 2025/26.

It is widely anticipated that most costs will increase this year. Key drivers in this regard are machinery and land rental costs.

Meanwhile, it’s very much a ‘steady as she goes’ scenario where world grain markets are concerned.

Most of the world’s key cereal and oilseed producing regions have achieved very high levels of output over the past 12 months, with this trend set to continue.