MarketsFarm — Pulse crops in Manitoba fared well against the elements which included sporadic rainfall and normal to below-normal temperatures for much of the past month.
Provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange in Altona said field peas should begin harvesting operations next week.
“As far as pea acres go, we’re looking at about 145,000 acres. That’s down a bit from last year, but it’s still pretty strong yet,” he said, adding there was very little disease pressure. “There are still good expectations for yields this year. We’re not going to see the 80-, 90-bushel (per acre) yields we’ve seen in previous years, but we’re probably in the 50-bushel range.”
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As for dry beans, there was an increase of 15,000 acres from last year to 130,000, which Lange attributed to crop rotation.
“On some of those fields, they’ve been sprayed with fungicide, which tells me there is some good yield potential on those fields. For the most part, anybody that didn’t get any moisture during the flowering period, there was very limited fungicide because disease potential was lower,” he said.
Lange added that while cooler temperatures helped out pulse crops, a lack of moisture didn’t help matters. While it will be too late for dry peas, dry beans and soybeans will continue to benefit from upcoming rainfall.
There will not be a repeat of last year’s record-breaking dry bean yields, but rather, yields will be average.
“Moisture will dictate (yields) and getting moisture now will help with the yields and maintain that average, but in areas that are challenged with the lack of moisture, like in the central region, they’re going to have some trouble getting to average numbers because everything’s drying out,” Lange said. “But there’s still time left before that happens.”
Average temperatures and good rainfall would be “very beneficial” for dry beans at the moment, he added.
“There are no real insect challenges right now or other weather events (in the forecast). If we’re maintaining our moisture conditions over the next few weeks, that should aid in the yields,” Lange said.
— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.
