Rain poses biggest threat to Man. edible beans

CNS Canada — Most of Manitoba’s edible bean crops are progressing with no complications — the only imminent threat being too much rain and moisture.

Dennis Lange, farm production advisor for Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development at Altona, said most of the beans were planted at the end of May.

“One of the biggest drawbacks when it comes to dry beans is that they don’t like excessive amounts of moisture. They like moisture to produce yield, but not excessive moisture.”

Manitoba is expected to have near-normal precipitation this summer, but wet weather south of the U.S. border may bring areas of the province near the border rain above seasonal averages, according to The Weather Network’s summer forecast.

“That could be a detriment to it, but you know, at this point we’re still OK,” he said.

Manitoba’s edible beans include navy, pinto, black, pink and great northern beans.

Most of Manitoba is between 85 and 90 per cent done planting right now, with some parts in the south completely finished, Lange said.

Statistics Canada has estimated about 75,000 acres for 2015, but Lange said the industry’s best guesses are closer to about 110,000. Last year Manitoba grew close to 124,800, StatsCan said.

“They’re still some pretty strong numbers yet.”

— Jade Markus writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.