Bob Lytle plans to grow edible beans this year, even though prices aren’t as good as last year.
The new-crop price for navy beans last week was 18 cents a pound, a far cry from the high prices of 1999.
“It still probably pencils out as good as anything,” said Lytle, a grower near High Bluff, Man.
Other farmers obviously share that view.
The Manitoba Pulse Growers Association last week said it expects the province’s bean acreage to hit 255,000 acres this year. That would be a jump of more than 60,000 acres over last year.
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With Saskatchewan growers also keen on pulse crops, questions linger about how many edible beans the market can bear. There are no quick answers.
“I guess we can debate that till the cows come home,” said Dennis Lange, a farmer, agronomist and director with Manitoba Pulse Growers. “It does put pressure on the market.”
Less in U.S.
Lange was speaking at Manitoba Ag Days, held Jan. 18-20 in Brandon.
He said a good omen is that American producers are expected to shift away from edible beans this year in favor of canola and soybeans.
The loan deficiency program in the United States offers growers price assurance for canola and soybeans even in times of oversupply.
Although high prices in recent years encouraged more production of edible beans on the Prairies, Lange warned newcomers to the industry that the market can be volatile.
He and Lytle both advised arranging price contracts on at least part of the crop.
“I really don’t believe in contracting it all, but you should do some to cover your butt,” Lytle said.
The traditional growing area for edible beans in Manitoba stretches from Altona northward to Portage la Prairie. Yields can be as high as 2,200 pounds per acre.
As with other crops, moisture, the length of growing season and soil types affect yield. Farmers in southwestern Manitoba should not expect the same yields found in the Altona-Portage la Prairie region.
“When budgeting for yields, budget for something that’s realistic,” said Lange.
First-time growers also are reminded that quality counts when selling beans. Those that are frost damaged or dirty will be a tough sell.
That means using equipment that does the least amount of damage to the beans at seeding and harvest time. Certified seed should be considered.
“If you can’t produce a quality product, don’t grow beans,” advised Lange, an agronomist with Parent Seed Farms Ltd. of Saint Joseph, Man.
