2009 Soybean Quality Report

The American Soybean Association and the US Soybean Export Council have supported a survey on the quality of the US soybean crop since 1986.  This survey is intended to provide new crop quality data to aid international customers with their purchasing decisions for the upcoming year.

According to the January 12, 2010 United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) crop report, the total US soybean production area is expected to increase slightly (2.5%) from last year to 76.4 million acres harvested. With average soybean yields expected to be higher than in 2008 (39.7 vs. 44 bu/acre), total US soybean production is expected to be 3.361 billion bushels or 91.7 million metric tons. If realized this will be the largest soybean crop in history. However, due to late season harvest difficulties, a reduction in the estimated total production is expected.

The average protein concentration was 1.2% higher in 2009 crop (35.3 vs.34.1) and average oil was 0.5% 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% protein and 18.7% 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 US crop, while Midsouth and Southeast states tended to have higher than average oil concentrations.

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



(*) 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.