Soybean Farming

Soybeans are used in a variety of ways – as food substitute, fertilizer, animal feed and source of special oils, among other uses. They are planted by many farmers in the U.S. and have become a major crop for the country. If you are interested in growing soybeans as a crop, here are some tips.

Guide to Soybean Planting

Before planting soybean seeds, you could take soil samples for your farm for testing to know whether you would need to condition your soil. Soybeans grow best in soil that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline. Add lime to lessen acidity or ammonium sulphate to increase alkalinity. Add composts, manure or fertilizer to increase the soil’s fertility. Although some varieties can be grown at all seasons, soybeans are usually planted in May and harvested in October.

Different varieties of soybeans grow differently under different conditions. And so, the most important decision a farmer planning to start a soybean farm would have to make is with regards to the choice of soybean variety to plant. Choosing the breed of soybeans that will thrive well under a farm’s climate is crucial to attaining maximum yield for a crop. If you are just starting a soybean farm, you can ask local seed dealers’ recommendation on the best variety to plant around your area. Later on, you can conduct your own on-farm trials to discover which variety produces the highest yield for your farm.

Planting should follow specific requirements such as spacings between rows and spacing within rows. Plants should be watered regularly, weeded and protected from insects. Soybean production is more effective at about 300 acres of plantation. And it results to higher yields too. A yield of 50 bushels-per-acre is considered high.

Soybean Harvesting and Storage

Harvesting equipment are employed to harvest soybeans. In harvesting, care is taken to minimize breaking or cracking of the beans. The same care should be observed when sending the beans to storage. The beans must be stored in conditions that will prevent the soybeans from insect infestations. Both the beans and the containers should be clean and dry. In general, potential insect infestations could be averted with proper harvesting, loading and storage practices. Use of insecticides is not advised for two reasons: it is an added expense and there are few recommended insecticides available for this.

Resources on Soybean Farming

You can visit soybean farms growers suppliers for resources on soybean growing, visit the American Soybean Association (ASA).  You can visit www.farm.ewg.org for information on soybean subsidies in the US. To find soybean farms for sale, visit www.soybeanfarms.com.

Equipment. Getting quality used equipment with a good service guarantee saves farmers time and money. Buying used farm equipment from dealerships offering service plans and extended warranties just makes sense.