December 20, 2007

 

US 2007 soy crop carried more protein, less oil

 

 

The protein content of US soy hit a four-year high in 2007, according to a study commissioned by the American Soy Association and the US Soy Export Council.

 

University of Minnesota professors Seth Naeve and James Orf analysed 1,685 harvest samples gathered from 25 states for the annual quality survey, which is primarily intended to aid international customers with their soy purchasing decisions.

 

"Average protein and oil concentrations for the overall US soy crop were similar, to those described in the 2006 quality survey," concluded the study, which was released last month during a series of ASA/USEC meetings held in Asia. "Average US soy protein concentration was 0.9 percent higher in 2007 -- at 35.4 percent -- and average oil was 0.5 percent lower -- at 18.7 percent -- when compared with 2006."

 

Those up-and-down trends are being largely attributed to a drought that affected various portions of the US grain belt from May to September. Dry weather stress has a well-documented impact on soy quality, generally prompting plants to produce smaller, but higher-protein seeds that contain a lesser concentration of oil.

 

"The most serious production problem for individual US producers was found in the southeastern US, where an extreme drought affected soy crops throughout the season," said the study.

 

That lack of rain had a major effect on soy production in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Kentucky and ultimately reduced national yields by 1.4 bushels -- to an average of just 41.3 bushels per acre. Total domestic soy production is currently estimated by the US Department of Agriculture at 2.59 billion bushels, down 19 percent from last year's record high level.

 

The 2007 soy crop was also quite clean, with foreign material concentrations averaging just 0.37 percent, according to the study, but it also noted, "there was a tendency for samples harvested from southern states to have somewhat above average FM."

 

Although great concern has been raised about the potential impact of Asian soy rust on the US crop, the survey report indicated that the Phakopsora pachyrhizi fungus -- which first appeared in the continental US three years ago -- has had little impact on production and even less on soy quality.

 

"In 2007, soy rust was identified in 19 states, including Iowa, Illinois and Missouri," said the survey. "However, rust was identified very late in the season, after it would affect soy yields or composition."

 

The study noted that no applications of rust-inhibiting fungicides were needed in most states, eliminating the chance of any chemical residues.

 

"While producers in the central soy producing region are more cognizant of the potential for rust and rust management, it currently appears that future large-scale rust infection -- and subsequent fungicide applications -- will be rare, at best," concluded the report.