Soybean

As published in 2006, soybeans are grown on 1 239 900 hectares (3.6 million acres) in Canada. Ontario leads in soybean production with 75% of the national production, followed by Quebec at 16%, Manitoba at 8% and Prince Edward Island at less than 1%. Total national production stands at approximately 3.3 million tonnes. ( Statistics Canada).

On-Going Soybean Strategy

Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) Pesticide Risk Reduction Program identified soybeans as a priority crop. General soybean production information and issues along with pest issues are documented in the Crop Profile for Soybean in Canada. A soybean issues document, extracted from the crop profile, was used as a discussion tool in soybean stakeholder meetings and consultations to help identify the top insect, disease and weed issues. General issues of concern and potential solutions to these issues are also discussed at these meetings. AAC's Pest Management Centre prepared both documents in consultation with the soybean industry, the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program's Technical Working Group and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

Soybean Stakeholder Meetings and Consultations

Information Session at the Grain Industry Symposium

On December 1, 2005, an information session was presented to soybean industry representatives attending the Grain Industry Symposium held in Ottawa, Ontario. The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program was presented and the organization of stakeholder meetings and possible venues were discussed in roundtable discussions. Representatives from Ontario Soybean Growers and the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association attended.

Quebec Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting was held on March 1, 2006, in Drummondville, Quebec, to prioritize issues, identify possible solutions and propose members for a national steering committee for three crops-field corn, soybean and wheat. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, the pesticide industry and federal government representatives (Pest Management Centre and PMRA).

Ontario Stakeholder Meeting

A stakeholder meeting was held on March 8, 2006, in London, Ontario, to prioritize issues, identify possible solutions and propose members for a national steering committee. Participants included growers, provincial specialists, researchers, pesticide industry and the federal government representatives (Pest Management Centre and PMRA).

Soybean Steering Committee

The national steering committee is comprised of soybean growers or grower representatives from Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, scientists, provincial specialists, a representative from the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA. The steering committee identified soybean aphid, root rots and integrated weed management as their top priority issues that required working groups (June 27, 2006). Soybean rust, soybean cyst nematode and white mould were also identified as national priorities.

Soybean Working Groups

• Soybean Aphid
  Meetings: September 2006
• Root Rots
  Meetings: September 2006
• Integrated Weed Management
  Meetings: October 2006

Research Funded Under the Pesticide Risk Reduction Program

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Program has funded several projects addressing the priorities the Soybean Working Group established in consultation with the Pest Management Centre and the PMRA.

Projects Funded to Date

• Development of a web-based tool to improve grower knowledge and adoption of reduced risk management of weeds in corn and soybean (Project Code: PRR06-950)
• Pesticide risk reduction in soybeans by comparing conventional, organic and IWM systems and soybean cultivar traits (Project Code: PRR06-490)
• Detection and tracking of airborne rust spores as an information tool for pesticide-reduction strategies (Project Code: PRR06-520)
• Canadian Soybean Aphid Information and Education Package - Field Scouting Cards and Threshold Postcards (Project Code: PRR06-940)
• Determining the minimum biologically effective dose of herbicides for weed control in corn-soybean rotations (Project Code: PRR06-380)
• Impact on the spatio temporal distribution of weeds in a decision support system for applying herbicides to soya corn; and update (Project Code: PRR07-010)
• Sustainable management of the soybean aphid with biological control agents and reduced risk- and bio-pesticides (Project Code: PRR07-490)

For further updates, please visit Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.