According to Manitoba Pulse and Sobyean Growers (MPSG), soybean harvest is sitting at about 30 per cent complete in Manitoba.

The edible bean harvest is estimated at about 60 per cent complete.

Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Production Specialist Cassandra Tkachuk says once soybeans reach the R8 stage, they are about five to ten days away from harvest. She notes when using a pre-harvest herbicide, producers should wait until about 80 to 90 per cent of leaf drop. Tkachuk adds pre-harvest glyphosate will not speed up maturity.

She had a few tips for farmers who are harvesting soybeans.

"It's important to avoid harvesting soybeans when they're too dry and this is too avoid seed cracking and splitting. Soybeans should be direct harvested with a flex header at four miles per hour or less to minimize losses and also aim to lower the cutter bar within two inches of the ground to capture the lowest pods."

Tkachuk explains growers should measure harvest losses as they occur.

"This is to optimize combine settings and speed. Losses can be quite extensive at harvest and it's estimated that 80 per cent of soybean harvest losses occur at the header."

She adds farmers should watch for smaller seed sizes which are a result of the dry conditions.