Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska soybean farmers averaged less than 1% foreign material in 2021

The 2021 U.S. Soybean Quality Report is now published, showcasing current foreign material (FM) percentage and quality data of soybeans grown in northern U.S. states.

Funded in part by soybean checkoff dollars and administered by University of Minnesota Soybean Extension Agronomist Seth Naeve, the report is intended to provide new crop quality data to aid international customers with their purchasing decisions.

“Typically, whole soybeans and soybean meal have been valued largely on crude protein quantity,” says Patrick O’Leary, chair of Northern Soy Marketing (NSM), a farmer-led board formed by the soybean checkoff organizations of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. “But through the use of checkoff funds, we’re working to change the language of soybean quality, focusing more on essential amino acids and its impact on our customers.”

O’Leary says this research is being communicated to international customers and end-users through NSM. One of the goals of the group is to shift soybean value paradigm from crude protein to nutritional value. The report states Minnesota and North Dakota soybean farmers averaged 0.2 percent foreign material (FM) in 2021 while Nebraska and South Dakota farmers averaged 0.3 percent foreign material. Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council Director of Market Development Kim Nill says this number is critical when exporting internationally, especially to China.

“The major export route for Minnesota soybeans is via Pacific Northwest ports, and 90 percent of PNW soybean exports go to China, which has a maximum allowed FM content rule of less than one percent FM,” Nill says.

In December 2017, China announced the country would only allow No. 2 soybeans from the U.S. with less than 1 percent FM present, which was formerly set at less than 2 percent. Fortunately, northern-U.S. soybean farmers were already producing soybeans under the new criteria and have continued to do so year after year.

Along with foreign material, the quality report shows the protein and oil percentage, along with amino acid levels for soybeans.

Amino acids are the “building block” organic compounds required to synthesize the proteins animals need for health and growth.

“A higher crude protein does not necessarily equate to a better nutritional value in feeding monogastric animals,” O’Leary says. “True protein quality is based on the presence and balance of essential amino acids.”

“Northern U.S. soybeans typically have a lower crude protein when compared to the rest of the country,” Nill says. “But lower crude protein usually translates to a higher proportion of the five most critical essential amino acids, which is more beneficial to the overall health, fetal development, muscle growth, and production of meat, milk and eggs in monogastric livestock, poultry and farm raised fish.”

According to the 2021 Soybean Quality Report, the sum of the five essential amino acids, expressed as a percentage, was 15.0 in soybeans grown in each of the four NSM member states.

“This Soy Quality Report is a critical resource when promoting our soybeans overseas,” O’Leary says. “It’s just one more supporting document we can use to highlight the true quality of our beans.”

To view the full 2021 Soy Quality Report, click here.