April 14, 2021

• Considerations for Dry Seeding Conditions
• Quick Reference Guide: Soybean and Pulse Seeding Tips
• The PMRA’s Decision on Thiamethoxam Seed Treatments in Soybeans
• On-Farm Network: Seeking Participants
• New! Fungicide Decision Worksheet for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

Considerations for Dry Seeding Conditions

This week’s snowfall has brought some much needed moisture. However, actual precipitation amounts have been variable across the province, ranging from 0.4 mm to 24 mm. To determine how much moisture you received from this snowfall, 1 cm of snow is equal to approximately 1 mm of water. To help you navigate a potentially dry spring afterward, we have gathered some important points on crop and soil management under dry conditions. Overall, the best approach when facing dry seeding conditions is to enact best agronomic practices that maximize yield potential.

Visit this link to learn more about the following topics, related to dry seedbed conditions:

• Herbicide carryover
• Soil disturbance
• Seeding date, depth and rate
• Fertilizer injury
• Soil salinity

Quick Reference Guide: Soybean and Pulse Seeding Tips

We’ve developed a quick reference guide for seeding soybeans, peas, dry beans and faba beans. Below is a snapshot of the first page containing things like minimum germination temperatures, seeding depths, target plant stands, inoculation strategies and more. Click the chart below for a pdf of the full guide and for pea, dry bean and faba bean seeding rate reference charts based on your variety or seedlot’s thousand seed weight and your expected emergence rate. Links are embedded in the pdf for more information on specific topics.

The PMRA’s Decision on Thiamethoxam Seed Treatments for Soybeans

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has released its final special review decision on the neonicotinoid pesticide, thiamethoxam, for risks to aquatic invertebrates. For pulse and soybean growers, thiamethoxam is the insecticidal active ingredient in Cruiser seed treatment products. To maintain an acceptable level of risk for aquatic invertebrates, the maximum use rate for soybeans has been reduced, resulting in the removal of some pests from the label.

The maximum use rate for soybean seed treatments has been reduced to 30 g a.i./100 kg seed, which will cancel its use for wireworms, bean leaf beetle, European chafer and soybean aphids.

Established populations of bean leaf beetle and European chafer are not known to occur in soybeans in Manitoba. Soybean aphids do not overwinter in Manitoba and are not present every year. When aphids are present, they arrive in July to August, outside of the effective seed treatment window.

The main insect of concern being removed from the label is wireworms. Wireworm levels are sporadic over time, across regions and within fields. Seed treatments result in low mortality of wireworms, but reduce feeding early in the season. There are other seed treatment options available for soybeans containing the active ingredients cyantraniliprole (Fortenza, Lumiderm) and imidacloprid (Alias 240, Sombrero 600 FS, Stress Shield 600). Imidacloprid is currently under re-evaluation by the PMRA and the decision over its use is anticipated by June 2021.

Seed treatments are available as fungicide-only or combined with an insecticide. Use the Soybean Seed Treatment Risk Assessment to identify where seed treatments are most likely to be beneficial on your farm.

New! Fungicide Decision Worksheet for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

On-Farm Network