All About Soybeans

What are soybeans?

The bushy, green soybean plant is a legume, related to clover, peas and alfalfa. In Ohio, soybeans typically are planted in April-June then harvested in September-November. When they flower in the summer, they can produce up to 80 pods per plant. Each pod contains two to four pea-sized beans. Soybeans are grown primarily for processing into meal and oil.

Where are soybeans commonly grown?

The main soybean-producing area is in the Corn Belt and lower Mississippi Valley. To learn more about production and yield in the U.S., visit SoyStats.com

How are soybeans used?

Soybeans actually have hundreds of uses, from industrial products like engine oil to food products and animal feeds. Soybeans naturally are rich in protein and oil, making them a versatile crop in terms of uses. When soybeans are processed, they typically are cleaned, cracked, dehulled and rolled into flakes. The process separates the oil and meal. The oil can be used in food products like salad dressing or cooking oils, or it can be used in countless industrial products. The meal, which contains the protein, can be used in food products or livestock feed.

How efficient are soybean farmers?

Today’s U.S. farmers grow twice as much food as the previous generation did. They do so using less land, energy, and water, and producing fewer emissions. From 1980 to 2011, total soybean production increased 96 percent, and the yield (bushels per planted acre) increased 55 percent. Part of that efficiency can be attributed to biotech-enhanced seedstock, which has grown from 77 percent of total soybean acres in 2002 to 94 percent in 2017.

What do soybean farmers provide?

Feed. The livestock industry is the largest consumer of soybean meal. In fact, 97 percent of U.S. soybean meal goes to feed pigs, poultry and cattle. Animal agriculture is soybean farmers’ No. 1 customer. The soybean is the highest natural source of dietary fiber. A 60-pound bushel of soybeans yields about 47 pounds of protein-rich meal and 12 pounds of oil.

Food. Soyfoods – including edamame, tofu, soy milk, soy nuts and other versatile ingredients like textured vegetable protein – offer flavor, texture, nutrition and health benefits. Experts recommend two or three servings of soyfoods daily.

Fuel. Biodiesel, renewable diesel, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are all clean-burning fuel produced from U.S. renewable resources, including soybean oil. All three build demand and add value for soybeans, creating environmentally friendly jobs and decreasing the use of foreign oil.

Furthermore. Other soy-based products include wood stains, concrete sealants, caulking, paint, insulation, foam, candles, beauty supplies and more.