August 21, 2006

August rain helps soybean growth in Canada's Manitoba

Improved moisture conditions in August are helping Manitoba's soybean crop, leading to a better crop than was anticipated earlier in the season, according to an industry source.

"After having come through a rather dry, warm July when things looked like they were not coming off that great, the rains we've had now, leading up to harvest, have certainly been helpful," said Martin Harder, president of Delmar Commodities in Winkler, Manitoba.

He said the Manitoba soybean crop is currently in the podding stage, noting that more pods are appearing and are developing well.

"I think if we have another three weeks without frost, the majority will be far enough along that we'll have a good quality crop as well," he said.

According to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc in Kansas City, other than the odd isolated spot farther north, frost won't be an issue in Western Canada until possibly the first week of September.

Harder said harvesting has not started yet, but he estimates yields to be in the 30 to 35 bushels per acre range. "It's not a bumper crop, but at the same time, things have really improved since July," he said. In 2004 and 2005 Manitoba's soybean yield was 15.0 and 21.5 bushels per acre, respectively, due to inclement weather.

Harder said Manitoba will produce almost twice the amount of soybeans this year than in 2005. Manitoba produced 61,500 tonnes of soybeans in 2005 and 44,900 tonnes in 2004.

He said Manitoba should have enough soybean supplies this year to not have to import product from the US for the third year in a row.

"There would be no need to import from the US this year, providing that farmers choose to market in a disciplined manner rather than saving everything to the end of the year," he said.