16 GERMINATION.CA JANUARY 2018 SOYBEANSONTRIALINALBERTA In a presentation published in January 2017, crop scientist Francis Larney of AAFC Lethbridge and his colleagues stated that soybean acreage is increasing in Alberta and they have found the best yields to occur at maturity of 116 to 121 days. They have done one year of study so far. They also conclude: - More than 130 days to maturity can lead to risk of frost damage - Threshold CHU = 2,200 - Target yields are now about 3,300 kg/ha (50 bu/ac) - Future yields could be pushed to 4,000 kg/ha (60 bu/ac) The team measured factors such as plant density, days to flowering, plant height at flowering, pods and seeds per plant and so on, and found that narrow rows resulted in lower pod height and more seeds per plant. Higher planting density resulted in slightly faster maturation. The scientists also looked into whether soybeans could be used to replace dry beans in irrigated rotations, but found dry beans result in a soil N credit 2 to 2.5 times greater than soybeans. yield potential in the early-maturing varieties. He lists resistance against things like Phytophthora, white mould, and soybean cyst nematode to be among important defensive traits. Looking Forward In terms of where in the West we might we see soybeans being grown next and how the industry is preparing for that, Clezy points to a few factors. “The future of soybeans will be dependent on the success that growers have over the next few years, as well as the ongoing release of new varieties that offer higher yields and earlier maturity,” she says. “The weather and the amount of moisture available will also impact the success of soybeans. As varieties continue to develop that are able to mature in fewer number of days, and yield sufficiently to make them a suitable option for more of Western Canada, we will likely continue to see soybean acres increase as well as expand in geography to the north and to the West.” Cober notes that some growers are trying soybeans in areas such as The Pas and Edmonton, and he feels it might be a possible to grow soybeans that far north, and he continues to look for new early-maturity genes which might allow for further northern expansion. “While heat- loving soybeans might be able to be grown in the north- ern Prairies, they need to yield enough to be competitive with cool-climate crops,” he notes. “I hope that soybeans might find a place in canola rotations to allow for longer rotations and reduce canola disease pressure.” SOYBEAN ACREAGE INCREASE IN SK AND MB SINCE 2013 Year Saskatchewan Manitoba Total 2013 170,008 1,049,949 1,219,957 2014 270,086 1,270,120 1,540,206 2015 270,086 1,385,025 1,655,111 2016 239,939 1,635,094 1,875,033 2017 850,000 2,290,000 3,140,000 Source: Statistics Canada Call 1.855.746.8200 or visit www.norstarindustries.ca to find out more MAXIMIUMTHROUGHPUT|CONTAMINATIONPREVENTION|RELIABLEQUALITY BUCKET ELEVATORS | CHAIN/PADDLE CONVEYANCE | HANDLING SYSTEMS