By: Wendy McDonald – MPSG Production Agronomist – West
This update covers field conditions up to June 5, 2026.
Some of western Manitoba’s gravel roads were still “ripe” with frost boils and rain clouds filled the skies. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldFaba beans north of Strathclair coming up nicely on May 27, 2026. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldFaba beans north of Strathclair coming up nicely on May 27, 2026. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldPea leaf weevils were nibbling on the faba bean leaves near the bush line and the field edge, but not yet in the middle of the field. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldTreated peas were beginning to emerge and we could find only a few seeds that were just germinating. Photo credit: Wendy McDonald
Shallow seeded soybeans coming up beautifully on June 2, 2026 near Gilbert Plains. Photo credit: Wendy McDonald
Due this field being very sandy and the high winds we had been experiencing, it was not rolled after seeding. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldIn some areas of this sandy field the soybeans were a little slower to emerge. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldThe wild buckwheat was loving the four days of 30 C weather and recent rain, so it all decided to all come up at the same time. Early weed control will be very important here. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldThe wild buckwheat was loving the four days of 30 C weather and recent rain, so it all decided to all come up at the same time. Early weed control will be very important here. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldThese untreated soybeans were also showing symptoms of fusarium and rhizoctonia root rot which will affect the plant stand later in the season. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldThese untreated soybeans were also showing symptoms of fusarium and rhizoctonia root rot which will affect the plant stand later in the season. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldThese untreated soybeans were also showing symptoms of fusarium and rhizoctonia root rot which will affect the plant stand later in the season. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldA field near Dutton Siding on June 2, 2026. It had untreated soybeans which had been rolled, and we were concerned that on the heavier land here. It may have been a bit sticky when rolled and the surface may have hardened which was making it challenging for the soybeans (seeded in cooler weather) to emerge. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldA field near Dutton Siding on June 2, 2026. Digging we found some soybean seedlings that were showing signs of stress (yellowing on cotyledons and seed damage). Photo credit: Wendy McDonald
We could find plants emerging that had been seeded nice and shallow and had a beautiful long root already. When looking closer, we could also see symptoms of root rot and something nibbling the stem. Photo credit: Wendy McDonald
A cutworm. He is alive and well at the moment, but the white bump on his back is a parasitic wasp egg emerging which will eat him from the inside out. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldWhile scouting in the field, I noticed this bee with heavy yellow legs and wondered what that was. Photo credit: Wendy McDonald
So straight to Google, and this is what it said…
Storm with rain, lightening, thunder and wind. Video credit: Wendy McDonaldOn June 3, 2026, we stopped in at the pea plots at the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation (PCDF), near Roblin. James showed us around. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldWe found some plants already at the three node stage that were 2 1/2″ tall; thanks to a nice 1 1/2″ seeding depth. The pea leaf weevils were out in full force and taking bites along the pea leaf edges. The pea leaf weevils were out in full force and taking bites along the pea leaf edges. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldGophers were also causing plant loss in the plots. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldMPSG has plots that are testing Volium Xpress sprayed at different plant growth stages (first spray was done June 2 shortly after the peas emerged) and will be evaluating any differences in pea leaf weevil notches and yield as a result. MPSG also is funding seed placed phosphate field pea trials in Roblin. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldSome lupin plants in the variety trials at Roblin were displaying brown cotyledons; this is strange. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldSome lupin plants in the variety trials at Roblin were displaying brown cotyledons; this is strange. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldOn the way back from a meeting in Carman on June 4, 2026, I could see that the rain had been quite substantial recently at Elm Creek. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldOn the way back from a meeting in Carman on June 4, 2026, I could see that the rain had been quite substantial recently at Oakville. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldOn the way back from a meeting in Carman on June 4, 2026, I could see that the rain had been quite substantial recently at MacDonald. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldOn the way back from a meeting in Carman on June 4, 2026, I could see that the rain had been quite substantial recently at Ste Rose. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldWe scouted fields to evaluate the extent of the hail damage and how many soybeans plants may have the potential to regrow on June 5, 2026, near Ste Rose. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldWe scouted fields to evaluate the extent of the hail damage and how many soybeans plants may have the potential to regrow on June 5, 2026, near Ste Rose. Photo credit: Wendy McDonaldI was amazed to find this soybean that must have just emerged that morning, and was still balancing the soil crust it had to push through to reach the sun. Video credit: Wendy McDonald
