Several Kenaf varieties have been grown at the Safford Agricultural Center over a period of 5 years. Plants harvested green have produced yields in excess of 40 tons per acre. Air dried stems that would be useful for commercial products have yielded as high as 9.5 tons per acre and two varieties, Tainung 2 and Everglades 71, have averaged nearly 7 tons per acre. In addition to yields and other agronomic values of the varieties tested, an economical discussion is made on the feasibility of Kenaf production on southeastern Arizona.

Three studies were performed in two different geographical areas in Graham County in 1998. A Bt hybrid comparison and a non-Bt hybrid comparison were grown in the Bonita area and a mixed (Bt and non-Bt) study was grown in the Eden area. Results of these three field studies are reported in this paper. Pioneer 33A14 was the leading cultivar in the Bonita Bt study with a yield of 13426 pounds per acre. Pioneer 32J55 had the highest yield in the non-Bt study in Bonita with a yield of 14630 pounds per acre. Novartis N7639 produced the highest yield in the Eden study but with a yield considerably lower than those seen in the Bonita area.

Cool spring weather delayed planting into mid May reducing the number of heat units available for plant development. A new variety to our testing program produced the highest yield, DRC 96-1 produced 4.58 tons per acre.

Kenaf was grown as a hay crop in Mohave Valley to determine its growth characteristics, hay yield, and feed quality. The first cutting occurred 75 days after planting when plants were approximately 30 inches tall and had 30 nodes. Hay tonnage was only 1,000 lbs dry matter/acre, crude protein was 20.7 %, ADF was 40.2 %, and TDN was 57.5 %. Forage quality was adequate for beef cattle and sheep.

Results of the 1998 National Cooperative Dry Bean Nursery Trials are reported in this paper. Forty one varieties of nine different classes of beans were included in this replicated, small plot trial. AC Calmont, a dark red kidney variety was the highest yielding variety in the study with a yield over 2800 pounds per acre. Kodiak was the highest yielding pinto variety with a yield over 2700 pounds per acre. Yields, seed per pound, aerial biomass, harvest index, plant population days to 50% bloom and days to 50% pod set are reported for this study. In addition to the small plot replicated trial, a pinto variety strip trial was conducted at this site. Nine varieties, including the best varieties from past trials, were tested in this study. ISB 2001 was the leading variety in this study with a yield of 3276 pounds per acre.

Several crops were evaluated at Worthy farms, near Marana, AZ, Wakimoto farms, Mohave Valley, near Bullhead City, AZ, and the Tucson Plant Materials Center for use as a winter cover crop following cotton with potential to reduce wind erosion and produce one to two hay cuttings. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), 'Lana' woolypod vetch (Vicia villosa ssp. varia), 'Papago' pea (Pisum sativum), and 'Biomaster' pea (Pisum sativum) were sown at the Tucson Plant Materials Center. Species sown at Worthy farm were: Papago pea, Lana vetch, and Biomaster pea. Species sown at Wakimoto farm were: Biomaster pea, Lana vetch, 'Seco' barley (Hordeum vulgare), and 'Multi-cut' berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum). Forage yield varied between locations due to sowning date, number of irrigations, and soil textures. Biomaster pea, Papago pea, and Lana vetch performed well at all three locations. However, Biomaster yields were more consistent and due to its shorter growing season may be the better choice as a winter cover between cotton crops. Additional trials are scheduled for the fall of 1998.

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.

Nine varieties of silage sorghum and one pearl millet variety were tested at the Maricopa Agricultural Center in Maricopa, AZ. Information on silage sorghum yield and quality can be of use to the dairy industry and help growers choose the best varieties based on their needs. We found no significant differences among the varieties for ash, ADF, and NDF. We did find significant differences in yield with Silo 700 BMR having the highest yield with 31.62 tons/acre and GS125 having the lowest with 20.53 tons/acre. We also saw significant differences in crude protein with ExpGD having the highest (3.47%) and Silo 700 BMR (1.93%) being the lowest.

Small grain varieties are evaluated each year by University of Arizona personnel. The purpose of these tests is to characterize varieties in terms of yield and other attributes. Variety performance varies greatly from year to year and several site-years are necessary to adequately characterize the yield potential of a variety. A summary of small grain variety trials conducted by the University of Arizona can be found online at http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az1265.pdf.