Al Calder is like most farmers these days – always on the lookout for a crop that promises profit.
That’s why he and his brothers, Murray and Russell, decided to plant soybeans four years ago on their farm near Letellier, Man.
They’ve had good results, and soybeans remain part of their crop rotation.
“It’s just another way of trying to make a few bucks,” Al said, during a brief respite from the grain harvest last week. “There’s just not enough money in the traditional crops like wheat and barley.”
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The Calders, who farm in the Red River Valley south of Winnipeg, are among those who have helped soybeans make a comeback in Manitoba.
Only 1,000 acres were planted to the crop in 1996. This year, it covers about 18,000 acres, with the bulk of that in the Red River Valley area.
“Guys have done relatively well with the crop in the last couple of years,” said Les Kletke, provincial agricultural rep at Altona, Man. “I think they’re going to do well this year price-wise because of the American dollar.”
Much of Manitoba’s soybean crop is sold to the crushing industry in the United States for oil. Manitoba farmers averaged between $7 to $8 a bushel last year, Kletke said. The Calders’ crop yielded 25 to 35 bushels an acre in 1997.
Manitoba Agriculture has several test plots sown to soybeans at Altona this year. The department wants to learn which varieties are best suited for the region’s climate.
One of the keys is finding varieties that mature within southern Manitoba’s growing season. The first frost usually hits the Red River Valley in mid-September.
“Last year, it didn’t freeze here until Oct. 16,” said Kletke, “so any of our varieties made it through. We had test plots to show which varieties wouldn’t mature and they all did.”
Inoculants and herbicides are also being tested.
Varieties resistant to Roundup herbicide are included in the tests. Kletke expects Roundup-ready varieties to be on the market next year.
In terms of plant disease, Kletke said soybeans are susceptible to sclerotinia. However, the disease doesn’t seem to spread as fast in soybean fields as it does in canola.
“When you do get it, it stays isolated on the plant. You’ll have one plant that gets hit by it, but not the whole area,” said Kletke.
Interest in soybeans has also spread to Saskatchewan, where farmers are keen to diversify. But until suitable varieties are found for southern Saskatchewan’s climate and soils, soybeans won’t be a big part of the crop mix.
“We’re in the test stage to see if we can successfully grow them here,” said Ray McVicar, special crops specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture. “If we can find better adapted varieties, we will surely be getting into them.”
Saskatchewan farmers planted less than 1,000 acres of soybeans this year. The crop was almost non-existent in that province two years ago.
Meanwhile, the Calders are trying to make the most of their soybean crop. They kept last year’s harvest and are setting up equipment to roast the beans. An enzyme in the soybeans must be heated to a certain temperature to release proteins, Al explained.
Once the equipment is ready, the Calders plan to process their soybeans and sell them as cattle and hog feed.
Several farmers in the Red River Valley planted a few acres to soybeans this year to test its potential. The outcome of this year’s crop will affect whether the crop continues its comeback, Al predicted.
“It’ll really hinge on this year as to whether the acres go up or whether they go down and sit in the doldrums for a few years.”
