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SOYBEAN VARIETIES

Keeping many factors in mind

When selecting a soybean seed variety to plant, farmers consider the length of the growing season, pressures from pests and weeds, yield, and the end user of their soybeans.

Selecting the best variety

Providing high-quality soybeans starts with choosing the right soybean variety to plant. Growers have to think through a host of situations when deciding which seed to plant each spring.

woman adding seeds into a planter

Growing season

Soybean varieties differ based on how long their growing season needs to be. Farmers need to consider if they will be planting soybeans earlier in the season (April) or later in the season after harvesting wheat in the early summer (late June or early July).

Pests, weeds and disease

Some soybean varieties provide added protection against pests, weeds and diseases common to soybeans. If farmers have dealt with these pressures in their fields before, they may consider a variety that is resistant to issues the soybeans may face.

Yield

Farmers may consider a high-yielding soybean variety. While these varieties do yield more bushels of soybeans per an acre, they also may require additional inputs such as nitrogen.

End user

Who is going to be using the soybean meal and oil is an important consideration for producers when selecting a soybean variety to plant. Animal agriculture remains the top consumer of soybeans and needs high-quality protein. Some food manufacturers are looking for specific types of soybean oil, such as SOYLEIC®– a non-GMO, high-oleic soybean oil developed in Missouri.