The average protein concentration was 1.2 percent higher in 2009 crop (35.3x vs. 34.1y) and average oil was 0.5 percent lower (18.6 vs. 19.1) when compared to the 2008 soybean crop. The 2009 soybean crop had nearly identical quality characteristics to the long-term average (35.3 percent protein and 18.7 percent oil) recorded over the past 23 years. As is noted in most years, Western Corn Belt states tended to have lower protein concentrations than the average U.S. crop, while midsouth and southeast states tended to have higher than average oil concentrations.

The entire U.S. soybean quality report can be found at http://www.asaimmea.org/quality_report.aspx

soybean quality survey data

(*) 13% moisture bases
(**) Regional and US average values weighted based on USDA production estimates for states

Naeve, Seth L., James Orf and Tracy O’Niell. 2009. Quality of the United States Soybean Crop: 2009. http://www.asaimmea.org/quality_report.aspx and U.S.D.A. Economic Research Service; World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates; WASDE-477, January 12, 2009.