Strong Manitoba Pea, Dry Bean Yields

Strong, and in some cases exceptional, dry pea yields are being followed up in Manitoba by solid dry bean yields as well. 

“What we saw in areas of southcentral Manitoba and western Manitoba, peas were anywhere from 55 bu/acre to all the way into the 90s, which was quite something,” said Daryl Domitruk, executive director of the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG). “We had a few fields which were probably affected by late seeding or excess moisture on poorly drained ground and those yielded less. But overall, the yields on peas were encouraging.”  

Domitruk added the wet spring raised concerns about the potential for root rot in the pea crops. However, those fears weren’t realized for the most part, as the soil in pea growing areas became drier over the summer.  

The Statistics Canada crop production report released earlier this month pegged the average Manitoba dry pea yield at 52.6 bu/acre, up from last year’s drought-impacted average of just 34.9 bu/acre. If accurate, it would be the highest Manitoba dry pea yield on record, just narrowly topping the 2020 average of 52.5 bu/acre. 

Meanwhile, the dry edible bean harvest only started three weeks ago, but if early yields are any indication, this year’s harvest will be a success, Domitruk said.  

“(We are seeing) 1,800 to 3,000 lbs/acre and that’s extending from Glenboro (in southwest Manitoba) to the Red River Valley and places in between. There are a lot of fields to be reported, but so far across the three main classes we grow which are the black beans, the pinto beans and the navy beans, we are seeing good solid yields and some exceptional yields, as well.”