Optimal seeding rates for faba beans can vary from less than 3 bushels per acre to over 6 bushels per acre due to a wide range in seed size. With spring around the corner, Sherrilyn Phelps of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers stresses the importance of knowing the thousand kernel weight of faba bean seed. “Depending on variety and… Read More
There’s plenty of excitement surrounding lentils heading into the 2016 growing season, with record acres expected. In this Pulse School episode, Shannon Chant of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture shares her top five tips for a good (or even great) lentil crop: 5 Tips for a Great Lentil Crop Good quality seed — Of course it… Read More
There were plenty of lessons to be learned about growing faba beans in 2015, as the number of acres covered by crop insurance in Saskatchewan tripled from just under 20 thousand in 2014 to around 60 thousand last year. “When you increase acres, there are definitely things we gain more information on,” notes Sherrilyn Phelps,… Read More
Pea prices in Western Canada are at record levels and showing no signs of weakness, largely due to the pulse crop shortage in India. Old crop yellow peas are fetching spot bids over $11/bu while contracts for 2016 are in the $9.50 to $10/bu range (most with Act of God clauses). “At this stage of… Read More
These are exciting times for lentil growers, with record Canadian lentil acres projected for 2016. Red lentil bids in Western Canada have spiked into the C$0.50/lb range due to a combination of poor growing conditions in India and the lower value of the Canadian dollar relative to U.S. currency. “There’s no question we’re going to have acres… Read More
The Canadian pulse crop is making its way into the bin, and from there on to export markets — markets that are hungry for more, says Jon Driedger of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. In this special #harvest15 Pulse School, Driedger sits down with RealAgricutlure’s Shaun Haney to talk initial yields, the good news story of tremendous… Read More
By now you’ve watched our video on determining when to desiccate faba beans, and perhaps you’re gearing up to go ahead. Now the all-important next question: what to spray? Well, according to Robyne Bowness, pulse research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, there are currently only two options for drying-down faba beans: diquat (a desiccant) and glyphosate (a… Read More
If you’re looking out over your faba bean crop and can’t help but scratch your head over whether or not it’s ready to desiccate, you’re not alone. Desiccant timing for all pulse crops is tricky — too early and you risk destroying yield potential; too late and you’ve lost time, leaving the crop open to… Read More
Peas, and pulses in general, are getting a lot of attention even as we gear up for the United Nations’ International Year of the Pulses. Global food trends seem to be favouring the commodity, with expectations that demand will continue to rise. For western Canadian pulse growers, this might mean developing an understanding of their varietal… Read More
Whether it’s growing demand for protein or pressure to reduce carbon footprints in the food chain, pulses appear well-positioned to benefit from global food trends. As the largest pea and lentil exporter in the world, Western Canada stands to become the “protein basket of the world,” says Murad Al Katib, president and CEO of Regina-based AGT… Read More
Pulse growers have some decisions to make regarding fungicide applications this summer. On one hand, dry conditions generally translate into lower disease pressure, but on the other hand, peas and lentils are in relatively good shape compared to some other crops affected by the dryness across much of Western Canada. Add the fact they’re selling for decent prices, and they might… Read More
You know the weeds are going to be there eventually, but a really dry start to the 2015 growing season means not just the crop is struggling to emerge and take off. While decreased weed pressure is a good thing, some pulse producers are having to navigate a tricky situation — the weeds are finally… Read More
If you’ve got your faba beans in the ground, as planned, it’s time to take a gander at the crop to assess the seeding depth, population and overall health of the plants. “The minimum plant stand to target right now is 45 plants/m2, so that works out to be 4-5 plants/ft2,” says Sherrilyn Phelps, agronomy and… Read More
Most lentils will have been in the ground for a while now, with farmers now starting to scout for emergence, and staging for potential herbicide and machinery passes. According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, fields left unrolled prior to planting lentils can be rolled following emergence up to the five to seven-node stage, with the best results… Read More
Much of the prairies has seen frost or the risk of frost in the past couple of weeks, leaving a lot of us wondering how our plants have fared. For crops where the growing point is above the soil surface, frost can be devastating (think canola). But for many of our plant friends, the growing… Read More