As landowners and farmers begin to think about planting season in the spring and make preparations for next year’s crop, many are likely looking for a crop that offers a balance of profitability and sustainability. One such crop that has become a staple for farmers the world over is soybeans.

During his appearance on the National Land Podcast, Executive Director of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association Charles Hall outlined a few of the benefits that planting soybeans can have for farmers. Let’s take a look at a few reasons to consider planting soybeans this spring!

What are Soybeans Used for?

Soybeans are a versatile and resilient crop that has garnered a high market demand in recent years. The main reason for this is their high protein content and ability to be used for a variety of means, as Hall explained. He stated, “Soybean is an oilseed, so it’s not like corn where you grow it on your farm, take it to the feed mill, and they can process it right there to make animal feed. Soy is composed of oil, roughly 20% is vegetable or soy oil, and the other 80% more or less when it’s processed goes into soybean meal.”

“Soybeans are never mentioned as everybody’s favorite crop, but I guess the paradox is that it’s the number one US agricultural export in North Carolina; it’s the biggest acreage crop and it’s got the biggest footprint. It’s a great source of nutrition for livestock, so when you’re consuming poultry or pork, you’re really consuming soy protein because those animals are fed on soybean meal.”

Benefits of Growing Soybeans for Farmers

From crop diversification to soil health improvement, soybeans offer a variety of benefits and incentives for farmers. Let’s take a look at a few main benefits of growing soybeans!

Less Management

One reason that a farmer may choose to plant soybeans is because they’re easy to manage, as Hall explained during his appearance on the National Land Podcast. He stated, “Another thing to think about though is that [the soybean] is a versatile crop. It doesn’t have to be irrigated, for example, it grows very well on dry land. It doesn’t take a lot of management like some other crops, such as corn or cotton which require more management.”

“You can get a pretty decent return on soy with minimal management if you’re efficient, and obviously, if you want to invest more in management, you can really do very well with soy.” 

For farmers looking for a less management-intensive crop that can still turn a profit, soybeans are a great option!

Nitrogen Fixation

Another reason that farmers should consider planting soybeans is the benefits that they have on soil health. Soybeans are great for keeping Nitrogen in the soil which is an essential nutrient for plants. Hall explained this process of Nitrogen fixation, stating, “Because soybeans are a legume, they’ve got these bacteria that live around the roots, and these bacteria actually take Nitrogen from the atmosphere and they fix that Nitrogen in the soil where the soybean plant can use it as a nutrient. It’s called Nitrogen fixation and it’s a benefit of growing soy. You just don’t need as much Nitrogen applied to the crop, unlike corn where you need quite a bit of synthetic Nitrogen.”

Because of their Nitrogen-fixing capabilities, soybeans don’t require synthetic Nitrogen in the form of fertilizers and can be a great opportunity for farmers to cut back on their input costs!

No-Till Farming

In addition to fixing nitrogen, soybeans can also improve soil fertility because they require little-to-no tilling. Frequently tilling the ground can lead to increased erosion and run-off which is bad for crop fertility. Soybeans can be planted with minimal disturbance to the ground, as Hall explained.

Regarding tilling for soybeans, Hall stated, “We don’t really plow the land anymore. We plant the seed directly into the ground without plowing it. I know farmers who haven’t plowed a field in 20 or 30 years, they literally drill that seed right into the ground, and they don’t disturb the soil or turn the ground over. That’s great for all sorts of things, like the biologics in the dirt, carbon neutrality, and more.”

If you’ve got questions about planting soybeans on your property this Spring, try reaching out to the North Carolina Soybean Producer’s Association or contact your local Land Professional today!