The dry edible bean crop in Manitoba is moving quickly. The crop is beginning to yellow over as it reaches maturity, and some producers have started undercutting and thinking about desiccation.

Kristen Podolsky of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers says when choosing a desiccant, producers need to think about whether dry-down or weed control is the priority.

"They can either choose a desiccant that has contact mode of action, so it's going to result in rapid dry-down. Or they could use more of a pre-harvest weed control where they would use something like glyphosates, which would be more effective against perennial weeds."

She also says staging is very important, to ensure the dessicant is effective, while preventing an accumulation of residue into the seed. Over the next week or two, growers should be looking for yellowing on over 80 to 90 per cent of the plant, with pods detached from the seed.

Podolsky says regardless of which product they use, producers need to check with the buyer to make sure it's acceptable for end use.