MarketsFarm–After a late start in seeding due to higher-than-normal moisture in most areas, Manitoba’s pulse crops are growing well, according to an agronomist.
Laura Schmidt, a production specialist and agronomist for Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG), said while pulse crops are in various stages of development, many are maturing as expected while some are still vulnerable.
“For field peas, we’re anywhere from the flat pod stage to the full pod stages. Some of those earlier seeded fields are starting to mature. For the later seeded peas that are just entering those early podded stages, right now we are looking for pea aphids,” Schmidt said, adding that root rot is showing up in fields with saturated soils.
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Dry beans are ranging between the R3 and R5 development stages and growing well despite the appearance of white mold, according to Schmidt.
“We do have moisture to fill pods, so things are looking good for dry bean development right now,” she said. “For fababeans, we’re also at full pod. We’re really taking advantage of the moisture this year with the fababeans. They are really enjoying that, other than the hot temperatures.”
Schmidt mentioned that fababeans have really performed well despite fewer acres due to late seeding. But dry pea conditions are inconsistent.
“(They’re just) very variable depending on your seeding date, depending on how well drained the field is in terms if you’re seeing root rots pop up. The frequency of peas in the rotation comes into play too,” she explained. “But all in all, things are looking pretty good for the pulses so far.”
Both ascochyta and mycosphaerella blight are threatening to damage dry peas, especially later seeded crops, while sclerotinia is also a threat to pulses despite a lower presence this year. Grasshoppers are also damaging pulse crops, according to Schmidt.
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The possibility of higher temperatures in August can also have a damaging effect to dry peas and fababeans.
“We’re trying to avoid flowering in those really hot temperatures,” she said. “There were signs of flower blasting (a few weeks ago) where those flowers have turned brown and kind of shriveled, but it looks like they’ve rebounded from that.
“We do have good moisture for pod filling. Rains in August normally play a bigger role for pod filling in dry beans and soybeans.”
Schmidt added that the ideal growing conditions for pulse crops this August depend on the stage in their development.
“Normally we want dry weather, hot days for peas to mature. But at the same time, we do want that moisture to fill the pods. To say what would be ideal is hard to say,” she said.
