Soybean production in the province is booming thanks to a number of new research projects being conducted by the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers.
In 2014 the group supported 23 new research projects, many of which were supported by Growing Forward 2.
Production specialist Kristen Podolsky says the objective of the projects is to evaluate agronomic practices that are specific to Manitoba growing conditions.
"One is looking at soybeans and how they're influenced across different landscape positions in the fields," she said. "Things like moisture, other soil factors can vary according to landscape positions. So this project is going to be looking at how different cultivars perform differently across landscapes. This is more of a really forward thinking project, wondering if at some point in the next few year we're actually going to be able to do variable cultivar planting across fields."
Podolsky notes that in 2014 there were just under 1.3 million acres of soybeans grown in Manitoba. She expects that number to be similar or slightly above last year, depending on the conditions this spring.
She says the number of soybeans going into the ground is about double from what it was just four years ago.