Enthusiasm for soybeans is spreading among Manitoba growers, especially
those in the Red River Valley.
The crop covered 45,000 acres last year in Manitoba, and Statistics
Canada’s March seeding intentions survey showed that the number of
acres could more than double in 2002.
“The excitement is not just a bunch of smoke and mirrors,” said Bruce
Brolley, Manitoba Agriculture’s pulse crops specialist.
Producers are finding the crop is a good fit agronomically in areas
with heavier soils and abundant moisture.
Read Also
Land crash warning rejected
A technical analyst believes that Saskatchewan land values could be due for a correction, but land owners and FCC say supply/demand fundamentals drive land prices – not mathematical models
In eastern Manitoba where excess moisture has been a problem recently,
soybeans have withstood soggy soil better than canola crops.
Denis Cloutier, president of Cloutier Agra Seeds Inc., said lower input
costs for soybeans mean less risk to growers. The Manitoba company buys
and sells soybeans and is helping introduce new varieties to the
province.
“Whether it’s really dry or really wet, you’ve got something with
soybeans. It won’t be a disaster. That’s the bottom line.”
Brolley estimates that soybeans cost on average $18 per acre less to
grow than canola.
The average soybean yield in the Red River Valley is about 35 bushels
per acre.
Brolley is confident that average yields will continue to increase as
producers become better acquainted with how to grow the crop.
Most soybean varieties grown in Manitoba come from Ontario and Quebec,
although some have been imported from the United States.
Manitoba growers are finding already-established markets for the crop,
which can be fed to livestock, crushed for its edible oil, or sold into
premium markets for human consumption.
“We’re tapping into markets that other provinces and countries have
already developed,” Brolley said.
While producers can target more conventional markets, such as the
livestock industry or a crushing plant in North Dakota, Brolley said
they can also aim for markets that pay a premium for specific traits
and identity preservation.
For example, he said growers are getting premiums for non-genetically
modified, identity preserved soybeans.
China and South Korea, where there’s a demand for non-GM,
identity-preserved soybean sprouts, are other high-value markets.
Cloutier believes there are also some areas of Saskatchewan that may be
suited to soybean production. Varieties are already being tested there.
Because the crop has not been grown on a large scale in Manitoba – only
800 acres were planted in 1996 – there are some challenges to overcome.
One is weed control. Brolley said Manitoba growers have fewer chemical
options than counterparts in Ontario and North Dakota.
There are efforts to get more herbicides registered for Manitoba.
