18 Sept 2025
Dry bean producers in Manitoba have planted the largest acreage in over two decades, reaching levels not seen since the early 2000s. According to crop experts, total dry bean acreage in 2025 is estimated at 207,000 acres, up from 182,000 acres in 2024.
Dennis Lange, pulse specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, noted during a late July webinar, “These numbers are impressive, likely the highest since 2002–2003.” The surge is largely driven by pinto beans, which are estimated at 123,000 acres, marking an all-time high. Other varieties also showed robust plantings, with black beans stable at 48,000 acres and white beans rising to 21,000 acres. Remaining acreage is planted with kidney, cranberry, small red, pink, great northern, and otebo beans.
This increase continues a multi-year upward trend, following 111,000 acres of dry beans planted in 2024 and 81,814 acres in 2023. Lange highlighted that this growth is part of a broader expansion in Manitoba pulse and oilseed production, with soybean acreage projected at 1.5 million acres (up from 1.3 million last year) and field peas at 184,000 acres.
Other pulses also recorded modest gains, with faba beans at just over 3,000 acres and lentils approaching 2,000 acres. Lange added that the soybean crop is experiencing some stem, leaf, flower, and pod deformities due to rapid growth syndrome, suspected herbicide drift (notably Group 4 herbicides), and environmentally induced male sterility.
Despite challenges such as bacterial blight in field peas and white mold in soybeans, Manitoba producers have expanded dry bean plantings in areas with sufficient moisture and dense canopies. Fungicide applications remain ongoing, and growers are closely monitoring weather conditions to ensure optimal crop health and yield.