View from the Field – East

BY: Terry Buss – MPSG Production Agronomist – East

Pulse and Soybean Crop Update for Eastern Manitoba for July 22, 2026

Field Peas:

• Most crop stages range from later flowering (R2) to flat pod (R3) with canopy closure complete. Growth has been rapid given the weather conditions experienced over the last two weeks. Weed control has long been complete and first fungicide applications were also completed days to a couple of weeks ago depending on the field. Some second applications of fungicide have occurred with growers and agronomists continuing to monitor disease pressure in their crops. Harvest will be upon us quickly with this early seasoned crop.
• Aphanomyces and Mycosphaerella blight have both been observed in fields from mild to severe levels across eastern Manitoba. Root rots have been particularly prevalent where excess moisture conditions were the most severe and persistent. Overall most have been pleasantly surprised at how well field pea crops has fared given the weather conditions this growing season. That being said, in areas of Eastern Manitoba where there continues to be persistent saturated soils, standing water and field flooding due to continued rainfall, damage to field pea crops has been extensive with some crops being terminated.
• Producers and agronomists were actively scouting for pea aphids during earlier flowering. I only received reports of below threshold levels being detected and observed similar levels myself.

Soybeans:

• Crop stages for non-reseeded fields range from bloom (later R1) to beginning pod (R3) . Fields that were previously quite uneven or delayed in their development are now becoming much more uniform in regards to growth stage. Overall plant stature and biomass is continuing to increase dramatically as is expected during reproductive stages.
• Second pass and sometimes third pass herbicide applications were completed but it was noted that very late application timing (i.e. beyond R1 or R2 was occurring on more fields that usual this year. Some growers were delaying herbicide applications as long as they dare to prevent making deep ruts or becoming stuck in fields with excess moisture. Rainfall levels over the last two weeks in eastern Manitoba were multiple inches in some areas. Ground rigs and spray planes were being heavily utilized over the last two weeks to finish up.
• Persistent saturated soils and standing water have caused some crop losses but are less extensive than with other crops given soybean’s ability to tolerate such conditions. However, increased levels of root rot, damping off and insect damage continue to be observed in the surviving/recovering plants. IDC symptoms declined significantly over the last two weeks as the crops grew rapidly in the warm conditions.

Field Observations up to July 22, 2026

Question of the Week – What happens if I spray past label??

• The most asked question I had over the last week was in regards to applying herbicides past the label spray window. While the labels for Group 1 graminicide products are quite broad, almost all products that offer broadleaf control have narrower windows for application.
• Often clients were bumping against R1 or R2 growth stages but still were very concerned about creating ruts or even getting spray rigs stuck in their fields. There were a lot more challenges this year in regards to this problem than in past years and for some of my more junior clients, this situation was a relatively new experience.
• My first suggestion to clients is to contact their local retailer or herbicide company rep to garner their experience. You won’t get any product support as you are clearly off label and know it but they may be willing to share their experiences with specific products.
• Note that damage to flowers is usually the biggest concern. Some surfactants in particular can damage developing flowers which is why manufacturer’s steer clients away from late applications. It is a very valid concern that is not always recognized because soybeans are very good at compensating for crop damage if growing conditions are favourable and do flower over a longer period of time than other crops such as canola providing some opportunity for yield preservation.
• My personal experience has been that the later the application beyond the registered application window, the greater the chances of yield loss and the more severe the yield loss.
• Note that some products can suppress crop growth and development for a period of time, cause unnecessary crop branching and/or permanently shorten crop canopy height. Make sure to consult with your product supplier or product representative to mange your expectations.
• I advise growers to make sure they validate that the late application is actually needed. This sounds obvious but I have seen situations where it was realized, upon reflection, that the late application was not necessary even though it had been planned. Avoid revenge spraying weeds that have already done all the damage to yield that they are going to do and realize that control of large weeds may be very unsatisfactory anyways.
• Large weeds causing problems with crop dry down and harvesting is sometimes a concern which prompts very late herbicide applications. If this is the case, consider whether the intended herbicide application will actually provide satisfactory control to improve the situation or whether pre-harvest applications might be more effective. A crop that simply looks bad to the neighbors is not justification to apply herbicides beyond label recommendations!

Longitudinal Root Splitting/Cracking – a lot more noticeable this year!!

• Another source of repeated enquires was in regards to soybean roots splitting or cracking open at their base. While we have seen this every year in our soybean crop, this year some the splits have become very deep and large and have allowed for opportunistic infections by various pathogens or the formation of extensive scar tissue on the stem base.
• This phenomenon occurs because of rapid and uneven growth in individual soybean plants and is driven by highly variable weather conditions as is common in our part of the growing region. We can all agree that this year has been a year of weather extremes and it is being reflected in the growth patterns and growth distortions occurring in our soybean crops.
• This is an untreatable condition caused by the environment and I don’t consider it a threat to overall plant health within a crop. Healthy plants with healthy root systems otherwise seem to cope well with this condition.

Soybean and Dry Bean Defoliation is being noticed and evaluated.

• Been getting a few calls from clients on defoliation in soybeans and dry beans. The best advice I can give on this is that we must be disciplined when we evaluated defoliation. Our pest species tend to favour feeding on the top of the plant first which makes the damage look severe when it might not be. Whole plant defoliation is what we must measure!!
• Remember our Defoliation Thresholds and what they look like!!
  • Soybeans: 30% defoliation pre-bloom; 15% defoliation from R1 (flowering) to R5 (beginning seed).
  • Dry beans: 35% defoliation pre-bloom; 15% defoliation after R1 (flowering).
  • Low levels of defoliation will not cause economical yield loss.

• It is still important that we determine which insect pest is causing the defoliation. This will inform us as to whether the defoliation will continue (i.e. determine growth stage of the insect pest) and whether a control product will be effective and economic. But I don’t advise counting defoliating insects but rather focusing on how much defoliation has occurred.