Soybeans by the Numbers

Agriculture is the backbone of Missouri! Top products such as soybeans, corn, and cattle help keep the Show-Me State in the national spotlight! Farmers have found the American dream right here in the Midwest. With over 29 million acres of farm land, you’ll be sure to see the hard-working men and women of agriculture working all across the state! Get to know Missouri’s favorite crop, the soybean, in today’s harvest season blog:

Soybeans, also known as Edamame, are a staple in the American economy. Providing feed to livestock across the nation, this valuable product makes a big impact through small farms across Missouri.

Did you know the average farm size in the state is 269 acres?  If this farm planted only soybeans for a full season, they could produce nearly 12,105 bushels, yielding 254,205 pounds of animal feed. Along with the feed, these bushels also create an additional 18,157 gallons of soybean oil!

What do all these numbers mean? Well, for the average cow, six pounds of feed each day is a regular day’s meal, along with other valuable nutrients. If the cow is fed this ration every day, one Missouri farm could feed roughly 116 head of cattle for a calendar year.

On the flip side, 18,157 gallons of soybean oil is enough material to create roughly 141 fourteen ounce soy candles. The oil produced from the soybeans is hydrogenated, transforming it from a liquid to a solid. Add in decorative colors, and pleasing scents, and the American candle industry has a main player in its product line! Companies like Bath & Body Works specifically offer vegetable wax candles as a more environmentally-friendly option compared to their paraffin wax competitors.

This fall, as you pass by drying soybean fields, think about all that can be accomplished with these important plants. Check out these surprising soybean facts and see what you learn:  

• Soybeans were first brought to America in 1765 from a sailor who bought them in China.
• The United States is the world’s largest soybean producer, with Brazil at a close second.
• One acre of soybeans can create 2,500 gallons of soy milk, more than 40,000 eight ounce servings of tofu, or approximately 82,000 crayons.
• A large portion of the soybeans grown in the U.S. are exported to Asian countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Whether you’re looking to finance land, equipment, or real estate for your next soybean crop, Exchange Bank of Northeast Missouri is here for all your ag lending needs! Stop by and share a cup of coffee with us, and we’ll work to help you gain the financing you need.  

Exchange Bank of Northeast Missouri

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

NMLS# 483241