Growing conditions for Kenaf were not as favorable in 1997 as in 1996 lowering the highest yield to less than 5 tons per acre. The highest yielding variety, C118-92K, was also the highest yielding variety in 1996.

Results of the 1997 National Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery Trials are reported in this paper. Thirty five varieties of seven different classes of beans were included in this replicated, small plot trial. Ole, a variety from Ag Canada was the highest yielding variety in the study with a yield over 4800 pounds per acre. Both Ole and ISB 2001 had yields higher than Bill Z, the highest yielding pinto bean in the area. Four varieties had yields over the 4000 pound per acre level. Yields, seed per pound, aerial biomass, harvest index, plant population and percent splits are also reported.

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Compared to current planting practices using naked lettuce seed, precision planting coated lettuce seed can result in substantially reduced thinning costs, increases in number of marketable lettuce heads per acre, and higher average head weight. The use of coated seed, however, requires more attention to seedbed preparation, planting depths, irrigation schedules, and stand maintenance. Hill - dropping naked seed does not appear to offer advantages over conventional planting practices except in a slight reduction of seed cost per acre.

Lettuce varieties were compared in Cochise County for late spring and early fall harvests. The Great Lakes 659 types consistently performed as well as any in the trials for these times of year in this area.

Preliminary tests have been initiated in a program for control of Sclerotiniose, or drop of lettuce. Damping-off problems are concurrently being investigated.

A number of chemical compounds have been field evaluated as potential pesticides for control of insects on lettuce over the past several years. The important pests of fall planted lettuce being the cabbage looper, beet armyworm and corn earworm. In addition to the chemical compounds, the disease organism Bacillus Thuringiensis was used. It is slower in acting, but can be quite effective, particularly against the cabbage looper. Some of the chemical compounds which have been evaluated and are now available commercially are Sevin, Dibrom and Bidrin. This evaluation will continue as new and possibly more effective materials are made available.