Statistics Canada will not release dry bean production or yield estimates until December, but it is safe to assume this year’s crop in Manitoba will not measure up to more typical standards.
Provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange this week pegged average dry bean yields in the province at anywhere from 800 to 1,200 lbs/acre, versus the five-year average of just slightly above 1,700 lbs. With Manitoba dry bean seeded area also down on the year, production is certain to decline from the 2020 crop of just under 200,000 tonnes.
“Dry beans usually do fairly well on drier years, but this year has been extremely dry for a lot of the producers. So the yields are greatly reduced from where our average numbers would typically be,” Lange said.
Still, there were some bright spots. In the more southern production regions, including the Altona and Plum Coulee areas, moisture was relatively better and producers reaped yields of 1,600 to 2,000 lbs, Lange noted. Additionally, the crop faced no major disease threats and came off with relatively good quality.
“I think overall the quality was still pretty good, but just the yields are greatly reduced. So not a banner year for dry beans,” Lange added.
Ontario dry bean growers also reduced planted area this year, with StatsCan estimating acreage in the province at just over 125,000, down more than 26% from a year earlier. However, growing conditions in the province were much better compared to Manitoba, meaning production should hold up relatively better.
Total national dry bean production in 2020 amounted to 490,000 tonnes, way up from less than 317,000 in 2019.
Navy beans in Manitoba are currently priced at 51.5 to 54 cents/lbs, Blacks at 55 to 58 cents and Pintos at 57.5 to 60.5 cents.
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