It is an admittedly low bar following last year’s devastating drought, but Manitoba pea and dry bean crops are much improved this time around.
“(This year), I think overall I’m pretty happy with what I’ve seen so far,” said provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange.
But that is not to say that everything is perfect either. Peas are struggling in areas of excess moisture, Lange said, while some of the dry bean crops – after heavy springtime precipitation delayed planting - could now use rain.
“Moisture conditions, depending on where you are, either you don’t need anything or you could use an inch,” Lange said. “Getting an inch of rain in areas that have been dry over the past few weeks would be a good thing. For the most part, things are looking alright.”
Over the past 30 days, pockets southeast and west of Winnipeg have only seen 60-85% of normal precipitation, while locations north of the city have been wetter than normal.
What will determine pulse yields now, Lange said, is how much timely rain falls over the next month or so.
Manitoba dry bean and pea planted area for this year is estimated at 125,400 and 188,600 acres, respectively, down from 193,300 and 224,100 in 2021. Regardless of the fall in planted area, 2022 production is still likely to be higher than a year ago based on a rebound in yields.
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