September 5, 2019
- Crop Update
- Soybean Harvest Guidelines
- Preventing Soybean Harvest Loss
- Frost Risk and Impact on Soybeans
Listen to the Bean Report here:
Crop Update
- Soybeans currently range from R5 to R7 in Westman and R6 to R8 in Eastman. The more advanced soybeans are earlier maturing varieties that are now a week or two away from harvest. Recent rains may have benefitted soybeans that still had developing seeds at the R5 stage, including those in the northwest region. However, rain did not provide any yield benefit to soybeans at the R6 stage or later.
- Dry beans have advanced rapidly across the province, with many crops sitting at mid- (R8.5) to full maturity (R9). Undercutting has begun for some pinto bean crops and harvest is underway for black beans and Great Northern beans. Recent rains have unfortunately shut down harvest for a little while, although the moisture replenishment is welcome. If you are still seeing several green pods in your edible bean crop, consider letting the crop stand longer before cutting to improve maturity.
- Field pea harvest is nearly complete in western Manitoba. Pea yields have been variable in 2019, ranging mainly from 40 to 80 bu/ac across the province.
- Faba beans range from R5 to R8 across the province and harvest is currently underway.
Soybean Harvest Guidelines
- Monitor soybeans every other day once they begin to mature. Consult the MPSG Soybean Maturity Guide to help time your harvest.
- If considering a desiccant, apply when 80 to 90% leaf loss has occurred and 80% of pods are yellow. If considering pre-harvest weed control, apply when seed moisture is less than 30%, stems are green or brown, 80 to 90% leaf loss has occurred and pods are brown.
- Consult your buyer or exporter before selecting a pre-harvest or desiccation product to avoid market risks.
- Direct harvest soybeans with a flex header when seed moisture is 13 to 14%. Avoid harvesting soybeans at less than 13% moisture to avoid seed damage.
- Direct combine soybeans with a flex header at <5 mph.
- Adjust the cylinder speed and concave clearance carefully to prevent seed cracking and splitting.
- Aim to lower the cutter bar within two inches of the ground to capture the lowest pods, preventing stubble losses.
- Measure losses regularly during harvest to optimize your combine settings. Use our Bean App tool – the Harvest Loss Assessor for soybeans.
Read more about soybean harvest for information on soybean maturity, pre-harvest weed control and desiccation timing.
Preventing Soybean Harvest Loss
Soybean yield loss at harvest can add up, stemming mainly from losses at the header. There are four different types of header losses to be aware of: 1) dropped pods, 2) loose seeds, 3) cut stubble or 4) lodged stalks.
Periodically assess harvest losses and make gradual combine adjustments to keep yield loss below 5%. Use the Bean App Harvest Loss Assessor to calculate soybean yield loss based on the number of seeds on the ground. Learn more about the research results on harvest speed and header type from the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI).
Frost Risk and Soybeans
The impact of fall frost on soybean yield and quality is influenced by the growth or maturity stage. The growth stage in turn depends on the variety maturity group and the date of planting. Though the risk of frost dramatically increases across the province at the beginning of September, soybeans are currently approaching maturity and at a lower risk of yield and quality loss.
Read more about the impact of fall frost on soybeans to find out what will happen to soybeans at different stages following a frost.
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