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Soybeans originated in Southeast Asia and were first domesticated
by Chinese farmers around 1100 BC. By the first century AD, soybeans
were grown in Japan and many other countries.
Soybean seed from China was planted by a colonist in the British
colony of Georgia in 1765. Benjamin Franklin sent some soybean seeds to
a friend to plant in his garden in 1770. Soy sauce had been popular
in Europe and the British colonies in America before soybean seeds
arrived. It wasn't until 1851 that soybean seeds were distributed to
farmers in Illinois and the corn belt states. This seed was a gift from
a crew member rescued from a Japanese fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean
in 1850. In the 1870s soybeans increased in popularity with farmers
who began to plant them as forage for their livestock. The plants
flourished in the hot, humid summer weather characteristic of North
Carolina. By the turn of the century, the United States Department of
Agriculture was conducting tests on soybeans and encouraging farmers to
plant them as animal feed.
 In
1904, the famous American chemist, George Washington Carver (pictured
right) discovered that soybeans are a valuable source of protein and
oil. He also realized the benefits for soybeans for preserving good
quality soil. Mr. Carver encouraged cotton farmers to "rotate" their
crops in a three-year plan so that peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes or
other plants would replenish the soil with nitrogen and minerals for two
seasons, and then the third year farmers planted cotton. To the
surprise of many farmers, this produced a far better cotton crop than
they had seen for many years!
 In
1919 William Morse co-founded the American Soybean Association and
became its first president. At the time farmers used only 20 proven
varieties of soybeans. Morse recognized that there was much potential
to be discovered in the soybean plant. In 1929, Morse spent two years
gathering soybeans in China. He brought back more than 10,000 soybean
varieties for agricultural scientists to study. Morse understood that
new, improved varieties meant better production for farmers.
 Henry
Ford is known for producing automobiles but did you know that he once
made a car with plastic bodywork made from soybeans? Ford owned a large
research facility. He came to the lab one day with a 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 lab 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 Ford was
using one bushel of soybeans for every car he manufactured. In the
picture above Ford is swinging an axe at an automobile to show how tough
the soybean plastic was.
It wasn't until the 1940's that soybean farming really took off in
America. Soybean production in China, the major supplier at that time,
was halted by World War II and internal revolution. When the United
States entered the war, the steep increase in demand for oils,
lubricants, plastics and other products greatly increased the demand for
soybeans. United States farmers produced the needed soybeans.
Following the Second World War, the United States experience a period
of increasing prosperity. Demand for meat consumption increased as
people's diets improved. Livestock producers found that soybean meal
was the preferred source for protein at an affordable cost. Chickens,
turkeys, cattle and hogs were fed diets containing tens of millions of
tons of soybean meal each year. This increase in the use of soybean meal
for livestock feed began in the 1950's and soybean meal has been the
preferred choice ever since.
One of the great scientific advances in agriculture was the improvement
of the soybean in the 1990s to withstand herbicides. This meant that
farmers could control weeds without killing the soybean plant. They
wouldn't have to cultivate the fields with steel implements, which meant
less soil erosion, less fuel expended, and more yield per plant. This
development resulted in new production practices that are gaining
acceptance around the world. Farmers in food deficit regions of Africa
and Asia are realizing that this technology will feed many more people
on the same amount of land. The technology has allowed U.S. farmers to
become suppliers to the world at a time when global demand for food is
reaching unprecedented levels.
Thirty-one U.S. states have a soybean production industry. The top
producers are the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota.
These midwestern states have deep, rich soils and relatively cool summer
nights. North Carolina in comparison produces about one-tenth of the
volume of soybeans produced in Iowa. But North Carolina produces many
other crops besides soybean. A typical North Carolina soybean farmer
might also grow corn, wheat, cotton, tobacco, sweetpotatoes or peanuts.
North Carolina has one of the largest pork and poultry industries in
the world. As a net importer of soybeans and soybean meal, North
Carolina ranks has high as many entire countries!
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!
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Soybeans, the “Miracle Crop”
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Today soybeans are used in a multitude of edible products, animal
feed applications, and industrial products, but it took a few years to
establish the crop in North America. Seeds of the soybean plant (Glycine
Max) were planted in what is now the United States beginning in the
second half of the 18th century. In 1765, a colonist in Georgia planted
soybean seed from China on his property near Savannah. He wanted the
soybeans to make soy sauce, which was popular in England by the
1750s. In 1770, Benjamin Franklin sent soybean seeds to the botanist
John Bartram, who planted the seeds in his garden in Philadelphia. In
the years 1851-1854 soybean seed from the crew rescued from a Japanese
fishing vessel was distributed in Illinois and throughout the U.S. corn
belt. Soybean plantings began to increase but mainly the crop was cut
for hay! In the early 20th century, agricultural scientist George
Washington Carver studied the soybean and opened a door to a variety of
new uses. But it was the impacts of the Second World War that truly
introduced soybeans as a major feed and oil crop in the United States.
The soybean is approximately 18% oil and 38% protein and is now highly
valued as a source of protein-rich meal in animal nutrition products.
North Carolina Soybeans
North Carolina farmers plant soybeans in all 100 counties in the
state from the mountains to the sea. At 1.6 million acres in an
average year, soybeans have the the biggest footprint of any crop in the
state. In a good year, the crop is worth as much as $800 million to
farmers. Because soybeans work will in rotation with other crops like
tobacco, and can be planted in the same field in the same year following
the winter wheat crop, it is a very popular crop with farmers. Most
soybean acres in North Carolina are in the eastern part of the state in
the coastal plain. Leading soybean counties include Robeson, Beaufort,
Pitt, Sampson, Pasquotank, Wayne, Duplin and Johnston counties.
Drought, heat, insects and weeds are the biggest pests of soybeans in
North Carolina and farmers spend large amounts of resources battling
these pests. North Carolina's soils and climates are varied so soybean
yield varies at different locations in the state or even in a single
county. Scientists have made great strides in increasing the soybean's
native resistance to drought and heat stress. Farmers have adapted
technologies and techniques that help them fight insects and weeds
without harming the soil, the water and the wildlife. This makes
soybeans a very affordable and manageable crop for farmers and one that
is good for the state and its natural environement.
 Like
many field crops, soybeans are grown from seed planted in rows in the
field. The soybean seeds are mature soybeans that are cleaned and bagged
specifically for use as seed. Farmers select seed based on desireable
plant characteristics, like high yield, ability to withstand drought,
color, or ability to withstand wind and weather. In North Carolina,
farmers plant soybeans beginning in May and as late as July.
 Seed
may be planted in cultivated or tilled land by a tractor and a planter
which deposits the soybean seed about 1 1⁄2 inches deep in rows that are
up to 30 inches apart. There is no rule about how wide rows must be,
but 30 inches is typical.
 Or
soybeans may be "drilled" into the ground in seven-inch rows by a
special "no-till" planter. When a farmer uses the "no-till" method, the
land is not cultivated and the seeds are planted directly into the
stubble left over from the previous crop, for example wheat harvested in
May or June. The "no-till" method is a great improvement that saves
time, conserves moisture and greatly decreases the possibility of soil
erosion. "No-till" is often acceptable for farmers, but sometimes
tillage is required, especially for dealing with fields infested with
pests like tough weeds.
Large tractors and multi-row planters are used to plant many rows at
the same time. This requires fewer trips across the field and more works
gets done in less time.
 When
the soybeans sprout and small plants begin to grow (about four to seven
days after planting), there are many things a farmer must consider to
protect his crop. The farmer has already invested in seed, planting,
and weed control and wants the crop to grow its best. Bugs and worms
really like small tender plants; so when the farmer notices that there
is a heavy insect infestation, he or she must calculate the degree of
risk to the crop. If the infestation is bad enough to harm the crop,
the farmer sprays a pesticide to control the harmful pests. If the
farmer is using organic methods, there are still products that can be
sprayed but the choice is much more limited, and the risk is somewhat
greater.
Another threat to the young crop comes from weeds that grow faster
than soybean plants. They can crowd out the soybean plants and prevent
necessary sunlight and nutrients from enabling the soybean plants to
grow strong and healthy. This will reduce the soybean yield.  Also,
if allowed to grow some weeds will produce seeds that will be harvested
with the soybeans and will reduce the value. The farmer will get less
money when he sells his soybeans if there are lots of weed seeds in with
the soybeans.
 In
July, August and September, the plants bloom. The flowers are small and
vary from a white to a beautiful violet or purple. From these blossoms,
the soybean plant grows small pods that contain the young seeds. The
soybean is a self-pollinating plant, which means that each flower has
male and female parts. A single plant can produce seed and essentially
clone itself. Soybean plants produce many more flowers than they need,
so many flowers never produce pods.
If you are driving through rural parts of North Carolina,
particularly in the east, you may see acres and acres of soybeans
growing. From your vehicle, fields of soybeans, peanuts and cotton may
look alike. You can usually tell the difference between soybeans and
cotton by the large white, pink or red flowers that are visible on
cotton plants, or by white bolls later in the season. Peanuts grow much
closer to the ground in mounds. Soybeans are a deep green with a
slightly paler shade of silver-green on the underside of the leaf.
About 75% of soybeans are grown in the eastern part of North
Carolina, and if you are driving in this part of the state in the summer
and early fall, you are sure to see some soybeans.
 In
late September, the soybeans begin to mature. As the days get shorter
and the temperatures get cooler, the leaves on soybean plants begin to
turn yellow. By mid-October and November, the leaves will turn brown and
fall off, exposing the matured pods of soybeans.
The soybeans are now ready to be harvested. Combines are large
machines for harvesting soybeans and other grains including corn and
wheat. The header on the front of the combine cuts and collects the
soybean plants. The combine separates the soybeans from their pods and
stems and collects the soybeans into a holding tank in the back of the
combine.
When the tank is full, the combine operator will empty the soybeans from the holding tank into a grain truck or grain wagon.
Soybeans are either taken directly to a grain dealer in the grain
trucks or they are taken to storage facilities and stored until the
farmer decides to sell them. Ultimately the soybeans are transported to
a processing plant where the soybean meal (the protein component of the
bean) is separated from the soy oil components. The meal is used for
livestock feeding and the oil is used for cooking oil, for industrial
purposes like manufacturing ink, paint, and solvents, and for soy
biodiesel production for fuel use.
When the farmer sells soybeans to a grain dealer, the beans may
then go to a number of ultimate destinations. When processed, a 60-pound
bushel will yield about 11 pounds of crude soybean oil and 47 pounds of
soybean meal. Soybeans are about 18% oil and 38% protein. Because
soybeans are high in protein, they are a major ingredient in livestock
feed. Most soybeans are processed for their oil and protein for the
animal feed industry. A smaller percentage is processed for human
consumption and made into products including soy milk, soy flour, soy
protein, tofu and many retail food products. Soybeans are also used in
many non-food (industrial) products.
 Some
soybeans are needed to produce another crop each year. High quality
soybeans are grown, harvested and purchased by the seed industry to be
used as seed for the next year's crop. Researchers in the seed industry
focus on developing new soybean varieties with outstanding
characteristics including high yield, lodging resistance, nematode
resistance, herbicide tolerance, and many other desireable
characteristics.
FOOD FOR HUMANS:
 Nearly all soybeans are processed for their oil.
Soy processors (such as Cargill & ADM) take the raw soybeans and
separate the oil from the meal. The oil may be refined for cooking and
other edible uses, or sold for biodiesel production or industrial uses.
The processors bake the high-protein fiber that is left after the oil
is removed and sell it for animal feed.
 Soybean oil is used in cooking and frying foods. Margarine is a product made from soybean oil.  Salad dressings and mayonnaises are made with soybean oil.
 Some
foods are packed in soybean oil (tuna, sardines, etc.) Baked breads,
crackers, cakes, cookies and pies usually have soybean oil in them.
FEED FOR ANIMALS:
 The
high-protein fiber(that which remains after processing has removed the
oil) is toasted and prepared into animal feed for poultry, pork,
cattle, other farm animals and pets. The poultry and swine industries
are major consumers of soybean meal. Over half of the soybeans
processed for livestock feed are fed to poultry, about one-quarter is
fed to swine, and the rest is used for beef cattle, dairy cattle and
petfood.
 Soy
protein is increasingly found in fish food, both for home aquariums and
for the fish grown for eating. Most marine species were feed fish meal
at one time, but the scarcity and increasing cost of fish meal has led
producers to switch to high protein soymeal for a variety of marine
species. Around the world, soy protein may be found in feed for most
animals.
Biocomposites are building materials made from recycled newspaper and
soybeans. They replace other products traditionally made from wood, such
as furniture, flooring, and countertops.
  
Particleboard, laminated plywood and finger-jointed lumber are made with soy-based wood adhesives.
Soy products are also found in many popular brands of home and commercial carpet, and in auto upholstery applications.
ENERGY:
BIODIESEL
-- biodiesel fuel for diesel engines can be produced from soybean oil
by a simple process called transesterification. This process removes
the glycerine from the oil, leaving soy biodiesel. Soy biodiesel is
cleaner burning than petroleum-based diesel oil. Its use reduces
particulate emissions, and it is non-toxic, renewable and
environmentally friendly.
Soy oil produces an environmentally friendly solvent that safely and
rapidly removes oil from creeks, streams and shorelines without harming
people, animals and the environment. Soy is an ingredient in many
industrial lubricants, solvents, cleaners and paints.
 Soy
crayons made by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company replace the petroleum
used in regular crayons with soy oil making them non-toxic and safer for
children.
 Candles made with soybean oil burn longer but with less smoke and soot.
 SoyInk
is superior to petroleum-based inks because soy ink is not toxic,
renewable and environmentally friendly, and it cleans up easily.
Soy-based LUBRICANTS are as good as petroleum-based lubricants, but can
withstand higher heat. More importantly, they are non-toxic, renewable
and environmentally friendly.
  Soy-based hydraulic fluid and rail flange lubricants are among the more recent products developed with check-off funds.
 SOY-BASED
FOAMS are currently being developed for use in coolers, refrigerators,
automotive interiors and even footwear. Beginning in 2007, Ford
Mustangs and other vehicles rolled off the production line with soy foam
in the seats. New uses in the automotive and equipment industry
followed, including lubricants, body parts, interiors and seating.
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Soybeans are a healthy source of high-quality protein and
healthful, low saturated fat cooking oil that is high in Vitamin E.
Soybeans contain no cholesterol, little or no saturated fat, and plenty
of protein and dietary fiber. Soy foods can be an important part of a
healthy diet as proscribed by the USDA.
Soy Nutrition Facts
The Bean That Can. . .
The more researchers take a look at the soybean, the more they like
what they see. Increasingly, scientific studies, many of which America’s
soybean farmers support with their checkoff, point to the soybean as a
vital part of a healthy diet. In these days when demand is greater than
ever for foods that taste good and are good for you, the soybean can do
it all.
To learn more about soy nutrition and healthy soy foods, get nutritious soybean recipes, order or download the Soyfoods Guide from the United Soybean Board and the soybean farmers' checkoff.
Heart Disease
- A Study sponsored by the Food &
Drug Administration indicates consumption of soy protein may contribute
to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
Osteoporosis and Menopause
- Ongoing studies have shown that soy can help fight osteoporosis and menopause.
Breast Cancer
- Soy contains isoflavones, primarily
genistein, which have a chemical structure similar to estrogen’s and
offer certain protections against a wide range of diseases, including
breast cancer.
Prostate Cancer
- Studies among Asians show, as a
whole, fewer men with prostate cancer. One possible reason researchers
have cited is that Asians eat much more soy than Americans.
Colon Cancer
Bits About Beans
Soybeans Make a Full Menu:
- Green vegetable soybeans are
soybeans that are still green and sweet after harvesting and are eaten
after boiling for 15 minutes.
- Infant formulas use soy protein isolate powder in lieu of cow’s milk.
- Soy cheese is made from soymilk and comes in a wide range of flavors.
Some Facts Behind Beans and Your Body:
- The FDA says that consumption of 25
grams of soy protein daily as part of a diet low in saturated fat and
cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, found in
certain fish such as salmon and tuna, are touted as
heart-healthy. Certain plant foods, such as soybeans, also contain
omega-3 fatty acids.
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http://www.ncsoy.org/ABOUT-SOYBEANS/The-Perfect-Crop-video.aspx
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