The United Soybean Board is stressing the importance of growing beans with 19% oil and 35% protein content. The new Select Yield & Quality program aims to educate farmers on the importance of keeping oil and protein in mind as they pursue the goal of increasing yields on their farm.

The export market, China in particular, demands it, USB says. That means achieving the high oil and protein goal could offer US growers a competitive advantage.

Here are some points USB makes about the economic importance of achieving high protein:

Continue article

ADVERTISEMENT

• Most domestic markets demand over 47% protein meal.

• Most export markets require protein content that is at least 1% higher.

• You need at least 35% to 36% protein soybeans to make high-protein meal.

• Based on a daily crush of 100,000 bushels, increasing meal protein from 46.5% to 47.5% will increase profits by $2 million each year.

And oil:

• A pound of oil is generally worth 2 to 2 1/2 times the value of a pound of meal.

• You need at least 19% oil from your soybeans to meet the industry average yield of 11.3 lbs. of oil per bushel.

• Based on a daily crush of 100,000 bushels, increasing oil yield 0.2 lb./bu. will increase profits by $1 million each year.

As part of the program, USB has launched a web site at www.worldsbestbeans.com. The site will soon include a calculator farmers can use to locate varieties in their area that target the 19/35 goal, and to locate premium programs in their region.

Worth noting, when asked if today's high-oil and high-protein premiums will equal tomorrow's discounts, USB notes one processor already has a discount for beans that don't measure up.