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Harvest

Peas are ready to desiccate or swath when most pods (75–80%) are yellow/golden brown, seeds in the bottom pods become detached and rattle in the pod and overall seed moisture is <30%.

Harvest can commence in 3–10 days post-desiccation, depending on the product chosen, weather and crop stage. Several active ingredients are registered as pre-harvest aids and desiccants for field peas, including carfentrazone, diquat, glyphosate, saflufenacil and flumioxazine.

Some of these actives may restrict export to key markets. Visit keepingitclean.ca/pulses for up-to-date maximum residue limit advisories and consult your grain buyer before selecting a product. Harvest peas once average seed moisture is <20%. Combining in the humid parts of the day can reduce shatter loss, but tougher plant material may not feed as well. Matching the pick-up header or reel speed to ground speed will also reduce shatter.

Additional Resources

Field Pea – Production and Management – Harvesting Field Pea – Manitoba Agriculture

Field Pea Production – Harvest – North Dakota State University

DB Harvest, Mid-season, Pulse Beat Individual Articles, The Bean Report

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