Rotating Crops, Rotating Fuel: George Washington Carver and the Clean, Green Soybean. Interview with MinnesotaSoybean.org by Willi Paul

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Tell us about the life cycle of the commercial soybean. What happens when!?

Farmers plant soybeans in spring, and harvest them in fall.
Farmers sell soybeans throughout the year to grain elevators (1st purchasers).
Grain elevators sell these soybeans either to US soybean processors or exporters.
98% of all soybeans are eventually processed into soybean meal and oil.

What is the soybean check-off?

½ of 1% of the value of a bushel of all the soybeans that farmers grow and market in US is deducted at the first point of sale. This is then forwarded to state farmer boards to invest in soybean related research, promotion and new uses programs within the US and around the world.

What is the latest word on the value of the protein in soybeans versus beef?

Soybeans are the #1 source of vegetable protein for the world. You would need to check with the beef industry for their answer to the rest of this question.

How does the MinnesotaSoybean define sustainability?

MN Soybean Growers Association is a state affiliate to the American Soybean Association. ASA's is -.

2.18.14 ASA supports the statutory definition of sustainable agriculture, as included in the 1990 Farm Bill. Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603. Under that law, sustainable agriculture means "an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs;
  
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
  
• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
  
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
  
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

"Half of U.S. soybeans processed for livestock feed are fed to poultry." What overall percentage is this?

48% for 2008 according to ASA's 2009 Soy Stats Book

Is there substantial bio-fuel / bio-waste in the soybean harvest cycle? Does mnsoybean.org have experience in small scale bioreactors?

We are not aware of any experience with small scale bioreactors for soybeans in Minnesota. However, this past Wednesday, February 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just released its Final Rule for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2) that was positive for biodiesel and particularly soy-based biodiesel. EPA's ruled that biodiesel from soy can achieve significant Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions relative to petroleum diesel. EPA says that biodiesel can exceed the 50 percent reduction threshold needed to qualify for the RFS2 biodiesel mandate. Biodiesel is one of the cleanest burning biofuels now used in commercial markets. Biodiesel is determined a good renewable and sustainable energy source that can play a role in national efforts to increase energy security and help improve the environment.

How many acres were planted in soybeans in MN in 2009?

USDA's lasted adjusted acreage estimate (Jan. 12, 2010) put MN's harvested acreage at 7.12 million acres at 40 bushels per acre.

Are soybeans sexy?
N/A

Approximately how many tons of fertilizer and pesticides (if any) were required?

Will have to get back to you on this one with more detailed info from USDA or University of MN. But soybeans are not a major user of fertilizers. Regarding herbicides about 90% of all soybean seed planted in MN is glyphosate tolerant, so soybeans not a major herbicide user either. Pesticides are permitted and used infrequently during drier summers where necessary to control aphids and spider mites.

What is the PR strategy for this crop at Farmer-Yoakam.com?

To let consumers know the value of the soybean, its many uses, its importance in the value chain and also the economic value that soybeans and agriculture in general mean to the Minnesota economy.

"While most countries soybean imports have remained fairly stable, China's imports have grown from four metric ton to 42 metric tons over the past eight years! With 1.32 billion people, China's demand for protein is strong. China produces only 14 metric ton/year of soybeans itself." What is the downside of feeding China, if any?

I really can't think of a downside of the US selling soybeans to China, so it can feed itself better and create a growing market for soybeans and other agricultural products.

Wouldn't the energy it takes to ship beans to China be better allocated to the US market?

The soybean trade dates back decades and as ships come to America with goods for sale, those ships go back to other ports of call carrying our crop to be used throughout the world market. Shipping and trade are economic drivers around the world that is necessary to keep the world markets vibrant for the sale and consumption of not only soybeans, but all goods.

Connections:

John A. Lumpe, Chief Operating Officer
Farmer-Yoakam.com
john at farmer-yoakam dot com
614.286.4035

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In 1919, William Morse, co-founded the American Soybean Association and became its first president. At this time, there were only 20 known varieties of soybeans. In 1929, Mr. Morse spent two years researching soybeans in China. He gathered more that 10,000 soybean varieties for US researchers to study. Mr. Morse understood that more varieties meant more production and would help America become a world leader in soybean production.

Henry Ford is known for his automobile but did you know that he once made a car with all the plastic made from soybeans - even the automobile's exterior? Mr. Ford owned a large research facility. He came to the lab one day with a huge bag of soybeans. He dumped them out on the floor and told the scientists, "You guys are supposed to be smart. You ought to be able to do something with them." In time, the scientists in Ford's labs made a strong enough plastic for the gearshift knobs, horn buttons, window frames, accelerator pedals, light-switch assemblies and ignition-coil casings. They also fashioned the exterior of an automobile from "soybean plastic." By 1935 Mr. Ford was using one bushel of beans for every car he manufactured. (60 pounds = 1 bushel) The picture above shows Mr. Ford swinging an axe at an automobile to show how tough the plastic was.

It wasn't until the 1940's that soybean farming really took off in America. Soybean fields in China - the major supplier of the world at that time - were devastated by World War II and internal revolution. The US farmers produced the needed soybeans.

American livestock - chickens, turkeys, cattle and hogs - consume about 25 million tons of soybean meal each year. No other high protein animal feed comes close. This boom in the use of soybean meal for livestock feed began in the 1950's and has not slowed down since.

Currently, thirty-one states in the United States grow soybeans. The top three producers in 2007 were Iowa producing 439 million bushels, Illinois producing 350 million bushels and Minnesota producing 252 million bushels in 2007. North Carolina produced 29 million bushels during the 2007 drought year.

WORLD SOYBEAN PRODUCTION 2007

• US produced 2,585 million bushels
  
• Brazil produced 2,241 million bushels
  
• Argentina produced 1,727 million bushels
  
• China produced 525 million bushels
  
• India produced 342 million bushels
  
• Paraguay produced 257 million bushels
  
• Others produced 301 million bushels-

- for a total of 8,077 million bushels of soybeans! Now, that's a lot of BEANS!