Their pulse is strong.
Pulse growers in Manitoba expect a leap in the amount of edible beans seeded in the province this spring.
Based on feedback from farmers and seed suppliers, about 180,000 acres will likely be seeded to the crop this year, said Ken Tjaden, executive manager of the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association. Last year’s total was about 110,000 acres.
The reason for the expected hike is obvious. Bean prices have fared well on the world market in recent years, and that cannot be said for many other commodities grown in Western Canada.
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“A year ago we saw bean prices doubling,” Tjaden said. “That creates a lot of interest.”
Projections for a rapid acreage rise are backed by Statistics Canada, which surveyed farmers to gauge seeding intentions. In figures released last week, Stats Canada predicted Manitoba farmers will plant 115,000 acres of navy beans, more than double the amount seeded last year. About 85,000 acres will be seeded to colored beans, which include the pinto variety.
The expected increase offers some cause for excitement within the edible bean industry. However, it also prompted a cautionary note from the pulse growers association.
Tjaden said Manitoba has a solid reputation for the quality of its beans, which are predominantly navy and pinto, and encouraged novice growers to bear that mind.
He advised against cutting corners, especially on seed quality.
“Garbage in, garbage out,” Tjaden said, noting processors are particular about the quality of beans they buy.
When harvesting the crop, avoid damaging the seed coating, Tjaden said. A damaged coating can separate from the bean after being canned, and processors don’t like that.
There is also some question about how much the market can bear before prices start to erode. Manitoba is one of the largest bean growing regions in North America, and it’s expected other regions will increase acreage this year.
