Take the Dry Bean Desiccation and Harvest Guide – Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers with you, to the field. It can be the laminated hard copy in your hand or the digital copy downloaded from the MPSG website on your phone. The pictures and descriptions can be extremely helpful when making timing decisions.
Evaluating what you see, hear, and squeeze helps decide if the stage is right.
Let’s look at a few pictures from last year’s fields. Are they ready for desiccation?
Seeing areas that still have green leaves? Too early yet.
Seeing plants that still have most of their leaves, even if the leaves have turned yellow? Too early yet.
Seeing areas of the stems that are still green? Too early yet.
Feeling pods that are leathery? Too early yet.
From those bottom pods…Seeing different coloured seeds? Able to squish the seeds? Seeds don’t rattle because they are still attached to pod? Too early yet.
Be patient
Wait
Check Again
Be ready
Here is what the ideal timing looks and sounds like.
