Growers of soybeans and other pulse crops need to know both if nodules are present in acceptable number, and if they’re functioning properly.

Choosing the right inoculant strategy

After some disappointing results this season, one pulse crop specialist says it’s time to take a hard look at these practices

Manitoba Agriculture pulse crop specialist Dennis Lange says it’s a good time to think about just what’s the right approach regarding inoculants for pulses. “This year I’ve had a few calls on peas and soybeans from western Manitoba where they are finding very poor nodulation,” Lange told the Co-operator in a recent interview. He says

Dennis Lange, Manitoba Agriculture pulse specialist, gives an update on pea variety trials and new protein measurements during the Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre tour in Carberry Aug. 16.

Pea protein under the microscope ahead of Roquette plant in Portage la Prairie

Roquette will begin contracting for its protein-based plant next year. Meanwhile, researchers are on the hunt for ways to bolster protein content in yellow peas

Pea researchers have a new focus on protein as plans for the world’s largest protein-based pea-processing plant move ahead in Portage la Prairie. The Roquette plant has been big news for Manitoba’s pea industry. In January, the French-based specialty food and pharmaceutical excipient supplier announced $400 million for the plant, expected to employ 150 people


Soybean aphids in a field near Portage la Prairie photographed July 26, 2017.

Get scouting, soybean aphids showing up in fields

When populations hit 250 and are still rising consider applying an insecticide, but don’t forget to take beneficial insects into account. There’s an app for that

Soybean aphids can now be found in many Manitoba fields and farmers should be scouting for them, John Gavloski, Manitoba Agriculture’s extension entomologist, said in an interview July 27. As of last week populations were generally well below the economic threshold, but some higher populations did exist, he said. Some spraying was going on in

IDC suspected cause of a lot of yellow soybeans this year

IDC suspected cause of a lot of yellow soybeans this year

Iron deficiency chlorosis can be mitigated by assessing a field’s risk and then selecting the appropriate variety, says Manitoba Agriculture’s Terry Buss

Dennis Lange has had lots of calls recently from all parts of agro-Manitoba about yellow soybeans, which in many cases was likely iron deficiency chlorosis. “With the cool weather last week, and some areas have had a bit more moisture, many fields have been yellowing and we’re seeing those IDC symptoms,” Lange, Manitoba Agriculture’s pulse


Rolling soybeans makes for an easier harvest, especially on stony land.

Tips for rolling emerged soybeans

The best time is at the first trifoliate on a warm afternoon to limit damage

When rolling emerged soybeans timing is important, says Dennis Lange, pulse crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Conditions need to be right to avoid crop damage. Soybeans shouldn’t be too young or too old and the air temperature should be at least 25 C and ideally closer to 28 C. Rolling, which is done to flatten

VIDEO: When should you roll soybeans?

VIDEO: When should you roll soybeans?

Tips from Dennis Lange, pulse crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture

Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson heads into the field with Dennis Lange, provincial pulse crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, to get a quick refresher on the when, why and how of rolling soybeans.


Soybeans should be rolled at the first trifoliate stage.

Soybean seeding advanced in central region, gearing up in the West

The third and fourth weeks of May are when most Manitoba soybeans are planted

Right now — the middle of May — is considered the ideal time for seeding soybeans. Usually the soil is warm enough to quickly germinate soybeans and the risk of frost, while still a possibility, is reduced. But this year planting is probably a bit ahead of schedule in south-central Manitoba and it’s about to

Soybeans are proving very popular with growers, but they’re still at risk for frost.

Soybeans poised to beat out wheat, barley

Planting estimates for soybeans are running around two million acres for the coming season

It’ll take quite a lot to convince Manitoba farmers to hold off on expanding soybean acres in favour of growing more wheat and barley for milling and malt channels. Farmers packed a hall at the 2017 CropConnect conference to hear a soybean presentation, and there’s no doubt provincial growers are more gung-ho than ever to


Manitoba Agriculture’s Dennis Lange says there are substantial differences between soybean varieties and technologies.

A soybean isn’t a soybean anymore

With more varieties to choose and new technologies to use, growers must ask more questions about what to grow — and what their neighbours are putting in

More soybean crops for Manitoba this summer mean farmers must be extra vigilant about what everyone else is planting, says a provincial pulse crops specialist. In a talk dubbed ‘A soybean isn’t a soybean anymore,’ during St. Jean Farm Days, Manitoba Agriculture pulse crops specialist Dennis Lange and farm production specialist Terry Buss cautioned farmers

As soybeans break out of the Red River Valley, Westman looks to become a logical choice for any future crushing plant.

Westman group exploring feasibility of soybean-crushing plant

Westman Opportunities Leadership Group chair Ray Redfern says with soybean production expanding and perhaps hog production too, a plant in western Manitoba could make sense

A group of community leaders is studying the feasibility of building a 5,000-tonne-per-day soybean-crushing plant in western Manitoba. The newly created Westman Opportunities Leadership Group (WOLG) is a volunteer group whose membership includes business, farm and civic leaders from the region. “Most of the (soybean) growth from here on in will certainly be in Westman,”