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GROW GENETICS 8 | Pulse Research Report With other provinces growing significant acres of soybeans, this researcher has been working to get Alberta into the game. Is there a soybean crop in your future? On the level of potential returns, the crop looks appealing. With soybean acres in the millions in Manitoba, and growing in Saskatchewan as well, could Alberta's soybean production expand significantly beyond 2018's 25,000 acres? Manjula Bandara, Pulse and Special Crop Research Scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry's Crop Diversification Centre South in Brooks, has been screening promising soybean lines and varieties since 2004. A key reference point for his work is an economic assessment by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry colleague Ron Gietz indicating that soybean yields need to reach 60 bushels per acre to be competitive with other crops under irrigation. "Why producers are not including more soybeans under irrigation in Alberta is the concern we're trying to figure out," Bandara said. "We reached our target of 60 bushels per acre under experimental conditions, and even in the field. There are some varieties that can produce this kind of yield in southern Alberta, no doubt about it." MANY VARIABLES AT WORK Plant a soybean crop in Manitoba or southwestern Ontario, and just stand back and watch it grow. The necessary heat units and required moisture are both likely to be available. However, in screening 16-18 soybean cultivars/lines over each of the past four growing seasons, Bandara has seen a high degree of variability, and wonders if that is what holds producers back. Per-acre yields from 2017 project fieldwork varied from 28 bushels per acre up to the 61-bushel threshold. Bandara and his team saw that in the Brooks, Lethbridge and Bow Island areas, yields were lower than those around Medicine Hat. He points to unpredictable weather conditions, with late-season hail being a factor on more than one occasion during the study. At all four research sites, researchers maintained high-quality soil conditions that optimized the moisture and organic matter. They looked at the impact of growing conditions, the effect of different agronomic practices like row spacing, reviewed different varieties and investigated input costs to better understand the economics of growing soybeans in southern Alberta. "Even with good irrigation, a key factor for soybeans is maintaining superior soil conditions," Bandara said. "Provided good growing conditions and no natural disasters like hail or dry spells, in the last four years, we got a reasonably good average yield of 47 bushels per acre across all sites. With some varieties, we were exceeding 55 bushels per acres and even got 61 bushels with one variety." Based on Bandara's research, he believes that Alberta-grown soybeans could indeed be viable. Much will depend on price, but on the evidence, the 60-bushel target seems achievable in southern Alberta. "It's a very challenging crop and price remains a factor," Bandara said. "Assuming the price stays around $10 per acre and growers can reach yields of 60 bushels per acre, we are potentially there." Scientist Sees Potential in Southern Alberta Soybeans PROJECT TITLE Identifying promising genotypes, and optimizing seeding density, nitrogen fixation and irrigation for cost-effective soybean production in Alberta PROJECT LEAD Manjula Bandara, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Advances in genetics and research that supports development of best management practices demonstrates that soybeans are becoming a viable crop option for Alberta farmers.

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