The untapped potential of northern soybeans in Canada

Dec 26, 2023

There is plenty of opportunity for growth of soybean production in Canada.

That was the primary topic at the second Northern Soybean Summit.The virtual event brought together representatives across the soybean value chain to share the latest insights on soybeans from the northern Canadian growing regions of Manitoba, northern Ontario, northern Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Soy Canada Executive Director Brian Innes said better adapted genetics and warmer growing seasons are expanding where soybeans are grown in Canada.

“More potential for soybean production brings more opportunities for the value chain, from growers right through to end users. Together, we’re working to better understand the value of these soybeans and how they can best serve our customers,” Innes said.

Attendees heard the latest research, the growth of northern soybean production, learn how the value of northern-grown soybeans can be enhanced and what’s needed to support continued growth.

Dr. James House, Professor and Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein at the University of Manitoba provided an overview of the latest research on protein quality of Manitoba soybeans, sharing that as protein content declines the amount of critical amino acids important for livestock nutrition goes up. He is working to develop and evaluate a Near Infrared (NIR) Reflectance Technique for measuring the protein and amino acid content of Manitoba-grown soybeans.

Jeff Bond, Manager of Nutrition and Business Development at PMT, provided insights on enhancing the value of northern soybean meal. One of the areas Bond focused on was the metabolizable energy value of Manitoba expeller soybean meal in livestock rations, identifying areas for more research to better indicate expected performance to feed formulators. He also presented an assessment of Manitoba soybean meal, livestock nutrient needs and industry feed requirements along with considerations and opportunities for growers and processors.

A grower panel discussion included Ernie Sirski of Dauphin, Man., Winston van Staveren of Creelman, Sask., and Melvin Rattai of Beausejour, Man. They discussed the advantages of growing soybeans on their farms, why they chose to add soybeans into their crop rotations and the differences between soybean production and other crop options they have.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.