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Mixed-Moisture Soybeans Could Spoil
Harvest
This year’s soybean crop could create multiple
challenges to profitable storage, especially in bins where the ability
to aerate grain is insufficient, says Charles Hurburgh, Iowa State
University Extension agricultural engineering specialist.
“In bins where there’s a greater likelihood of having soybeans with
mixed moisture levels, there is also a greater need for aeration,”
says Hurburgh. “To stop spoilage, you’ll first need to aerate bins
to get the beans cold and then pay close attention to moisture
levels.”
Most farmers in Iowa and surrounding states have harvested areas this
fall where replanted soybeans were in and around soybeans that weren’t
replanted, he points out. As a result, soybean growers this year will
likely have a mix of higher-moisture replanted soybeans in their bins
along with lower-moisture, earlier-planted soybeans.
Unfortunately, even a small portion of high-moisture soybeans can cause
significant storage problem, emphasizes Hurburgh. “If beans start to
turn gray in color, or smell rancid, then you should sell them right
away,” he advises. “It’s difficult to stop rancidity from
spreading once it starts.”
A good aeration system is the key to avoiding unnecessary loss or
expense due to mixed soybean moisture levels. “If your soybeans are at
15% moisture or under, you shouldn’t need to dry them,” says
Hurburgh. “Farmers with a decently designed aeration system should be
able to drop temperatures inside their bins to keep grain in condition.
However, in bins where there is little or no ability to move air through
the grain, there is also little or no chance to equalize the temperature
in the bin to prevent hot spots from developing.”
The ideal aeration strategy will keep temperatures falling with the
outside air temperature, adds Hurburgh. “When the temperature
difference gets to be 10-15° F on average, then aerate,” he advises.
Drying soybeans can be both expensive and problematic, in
comparison to aeration. “Soybeans can be gas-dried to reduce moisture
levels, but they dry very quickly, and you can’t get them too hot or
they’ll split,” says Hurburgh. “If you decide to dry soybeans
prior to storage, you’ll need to pay close attention to drying
temperatures and take frequent moisture tests. You don’t want the
drying air temperature to exceed 130° F or the beans to get hotter than
100° F.”
To avoid economic loss, farmers should also be careful to avoid
over-drying their soybeans. “Inventory management is a lot more
critical when prices are higher,” says Hurburgh. “A point of
moisture could be worth 25¢/bu. for farmers who priced their soybeans
earlier this summer. So, don’t dry soybeans much past 13% moisture and
risk losing money on weight. It’s always better to take a little bit
of discount by being slightly over the moisture standard as opposed to
going under the moisture standard.”
Farmers might also consider selling high-moisture soybeans right out of
the field to save trouble and expense, advises Hurburgh. “In the
southern third of Iowa, there were still a fair amount of beans left in
the field earlier this week,” he points out. “At this time of year,
those beans likely won’t dry down past 15% moisture. With a wet snow,
the moisture levels for those soybeans could increase to 15-20%.”
Any soybeans still left in the field right now are also more vulnerable
to freeze and thaw cycles that can cause pods to split and soybeans to
drop to the ground, he adds. As a result, Hurburgh recommends bringing
in those soybeans with as little delay as possible.
For more information from ISU on soybean drying and storage, click here:
extension.agron.iastate.edu/soybean.
By John Pocock
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New Poll Question On
cornandsoybeandigest.com
Thanks to all the readers who voted in our online poll
about the election! We had nearly 4,500 votes. We’ve got a new
question for you now: What factor will most affect your acreage
allocation this spring?
Log on to cornandsoybeandigest.com and
let us know your answer. We want your opinions and appreciate your
input!
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Repeat Of
1980s Unlikely For Agriculture, Say Economists
Times are tough, but not yet as tough for farmers as
the 1980s, according to Mike Boehlje and Chris Hurt, Purdue University
agricultural economists. The agriculture industry is in a much stronger
financial position now than it was two decades ago, they point out.
Present economic fundamentals also are more favorable, indicating
farmers are likely to withstand the economic downturn.
Boehlje and Hurt make their case in “The Financial Crisis: Is This a
Repeat of the '80s for Agriculture?” The paper can be read on the
Purdue Extension Financial Crisis Information Web page, located at: www.agecon.purdue.edu/news/financial_crisis.asp.
High grain prices placed farm incomes on a record-setting pace earlier
this year. That all changed, as bank failures threw world economies into
a tailspin.
“Agriculture is not immune to the financial slowdown,” says Boehlje.
“Grain prices declined almost 50% from June to October 2008. The
almost-$4 decline in corn prices in four months is unprecedented in both
speed and magnitude. Farmers and agribusiness managers are clearly
unnerved by this rapid deterioration.”
Like today, the agriculture industry enjoyed a prosperous period in the
1970s before the bottom fell out in the 1980s, says Hurt. Economic data
and history point to a much more severe period 20 years ago, however.
“We're in a much different situation in agriculture today than we were
in the 1970s boom and then massive bust in the 1980s,” says Hurt.
“One difference is interest rates are much lower this time. In the
1970s we had moderate interest rates, but then we saw them move up in
the 1980s, with the prime rate above 20% as we started to fight
inflation.”
To read more of this article and its comparisons between the farm
economy at present and during the 1980s, click here: www.agriculture.purdue.edu/aganswers/story.asp?storyID=5097.
Source: Purdue University Extension
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Leasing
Considerations For A Volatile Year
Landowners and tenants will face a difficult challenge
in determining a fair and reasonable leasing agreement for both parties
for 2009, says Bruce Johnson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
agricultural economist.
When it comes to farm leases, Johnson says both the tenant and landowner
need to realize that risk exposure going into 2009 is greater than ever
before. With a cash lease, the tenant carries the bulk of the risk, and
the landowner must realize this risk is growing.
“Tenants can't simply continue to bid up cash rents in light of the
fact that there is serious risk exposure on both the purchased-input
side and the commodity-price side,” says Johnson. He adds that the
best advice may be to leave 2009 cash rent rates at 2008 rates, assuming
those 2008 rates were set at reasonable and competitive levels for the
local area.
When one loads current conditions into the UNL Farm Lease Calculator,
the results would suggest little economic justification for raising 2009
lease rates much above the 2008 levels. The UNL Farm Lease Calculator
and other leasing resources are available on the Department of
Agricultural Economics Web site at: www.agecon.unl.edu.
During volatile market times, the crop-share lease actually is the most
fair and equitable of the cropland leasing agreements, says Johnson.
Both tenants and landowners have tended to move toward cash leasing and
away from crop-share leasing – tenants because of the great management
flexibility and landowners because of the fixed cash payment they can
count on with little management responsibility on their party.
“However, as we try to ride out this global economic storm, it may be
time for both parties to reconsider leasing on a crop-share basis,” he
says. “Bear in mind, though, that traditional crop-share arrangements
may not fit the type of crop-production agriculture we have today.”
For example, under the conventional 50-50 crop share arrangement for
irrigated land, the landowner's relative dollar contribution to the
contract is often greater than that of the tenants. However, by altering
the proportional shares of one or more of the variable inputs instead of
sharing in the same proportions as output, the balance can often be
restored. Again, the UNL Farm Lease Calculator can help with this.
“Finally, it should go without saying that economic decisions today
based on mutual trust, forthrightness and integrity are more important
than ever,” he says. “All parties need to be striving for one common
cause – a fair and equitable leasing arrangement with the long-run
sustainability of the land and the agricultural community in mind.”
For more information on farm lease agreements, click here: cornandsoybeandigest.com/ag-issues/leasing_logistics_nebraska_0908/
or here: www.agecon.unl.edu/realestate.html.
Source: University of Nebraska Institute of
Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Potential Soybean And Corn Price
Recovery
Soybean and corn prices have increased modestly from
the marketing year lows of mid to late October. The average cash price
of soybeans in central Illinois reached a low of $8.055 on Oct. 15,
recovered to $9.09 on Oct. 29, and stood at $8.94 on Oct. 31. The
average cash price of corn in the same area reached a low of $3.33 on
Oct. 24, recovered to $3.825 on Oct. 29, and stood at $3.645 on Oct. 31.
The price of corn was $.055 higher than on the same date in 2007, while
the price of soybeans was $.79 lower.
For the most part, prices of soybeans and corn have been influenced by
developments in the financial, energy and currency markets. In addition,
prices have received some direction from the pace of exports and export
sales. Corn exports and export sales continue to be relatively weak.
In contrast to corn export sales, sales of U.S. soybeans have been
large. As of Oct. 23, total export commitments stood at 524 million
bushels, nearly 14% larger than sales of a year ago. Export inspections
were especially large in the two weeks ending on Oct. 30. Sales of U.S.
soybeans to China are running nearly 16% above the pace of a year ago.
While early export sales of U.S. soybeans have exceeded expectations, a
slow down is likely to occur as the marketing year progresses. The USDA
has projected that for the year, China will import slightly fewer
soybeans from all sources than were imported last year. The USDA has
also projected a 12% year-over-year decline in all soybean exports.
Prices of corn and soybeans have also responded to changes in the
prospective size of the 2008 U.S. harvest. The USDA’s revised acreage
and production forecasts released on Oct. 28 provided some modest
support for prices.
To continue reading this article on the potential for soybean and corn
price recoveries, click here: www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu/marketing.
Source: University of Illinois
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USDA Credit Guarantee Program Bodes Well for
U.S. Farmers
The USDA recently announced $3.5 billion in credit
guarantees for the 2009 fiscal year. Specifically, the USDA’s
Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) administers export credit guarantees
for commercial financing of U.S. agricultural exports. The guarantees
encourage exports to buyers in countries where credit is necessary to
maintain or increase U.S. sales but where financing may not be available
without CCC guarantees. Given the current state of global banking
industries, overseas customers are going to need credit, says Ken
Hobbie, U.S. Grains Council president and CEO.
The Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) covers credit terms up to
three years. GSM-102 underwrites credit extended by the private banking
sector in the U.S. to approved foreign banks using letters of credit to
pay for food and agricultural products sold to foreign buyers.
“This program provides the opportunity to our overseas customers to
obtain credit that in many cases they wouldn’t be able to get as a
result of the volatile state of the global economy,” says Hobbie.
“This program truly allows overseas livestock and feed industries to
be able to produce food for growing populations, which in turn works to
reduce global hunger. Programs like this are particularly important in
countries like Korea, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, to name a few, because
they don’t have well developed banking industries.”
For more information from U.S. Grains Council, click here: www.grains.org/page.ww?section=Latest+News&name=Latest+News.
Source: U.S. Grains Council
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Soybean
Checkoff Sponsors Conference To Solve Shipping
Problems
The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff
are co-sponsoring a containerized shipping conference this week in
Chicago, which began yesterday and runs until Nov. 7. Participants from
all segments of the soybean industry are meeting to help find more
opportunities to affordably and efficiently ship U.S. soy abroad in
containers that would otherwise return empty to international ports.
The U.S. imports many consumer and industrial goods that arrive in
shipping containers from other countries. In the past, these containers
have been sent back empty at the cost of the exporter. Recently workers
in the agricultural shipping industry have been filling these empty
containers with soybeans and soybean meal. The U.S. exporters are then
able to send smaller shipments to other countries that may not be able
to handle or afford conventional bulk shipments.
“Containerized shipping is a new opportunity that provides U.S.
soybean farmers an advantage by allowing us to get to places we
couldn’t get to or compete in before,” says Terry Ecker, soybean
farmer from Elmo, MO, and USB director. “The quality can also be
better as the soybeans are loaded directly at the farm sometimes and the
soybeans are handled less.”
There are still areas for improvement with the logistics of
containerized shipping from all angles of this industry. The conference
hopes to correct some of these details and move this avenue of shipping
forward. In addition to the conference, meetings will take place during
the week between potential international buyers and domestic marketers
of soy.
For more information on the conference, visit www.ussoyexports.com.
Source: United Soybean Board
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Illinois Farm
Economics Summits Set For December
The “incredible roller coaster ride” of Illinois
agriculture in the past year and future twists and turns will be
addressed in a series of meetings throughout Illinois in December,
sponsored by University of Illinois (U of I) Extension.
“The Profitability of Illinois Agriculture: Looking Ahead in
Extraordinary Times” is the theme of the 2008 Illinois Farm Economics
Summit to be held in Mount Vernon, Bloomington, Galesburg and Sycamore.
“Crop prices zoomed to unheard of heights and then dropped with
stunning quickness,” says Scott Irwin, U of I professor of
agricultural marketing, in reviewing the roller coaster ride. “It is
hard to imagine a time when uncertainty has ever been higher and the
need for sound analysis greater.”
Sound analysis is what U of I Extension's farmdoc team will address in
these meetings as they explore the farm profitability outlook from
several perspectives, including the direction of prices, long-term
fundamental value of commodities, credit availability, production costs,
new farm program provisions, crop insurance alternatives and farm lease
trends. Each program begins at 8 a.m. and concludes by 3 p.m. The
registration fee is $50/person and includes lunch, refreshments and all
meeting materials. At-door registration, space permitting, will be
$65/person.
Registration may be completed online (www.farmdoc.uiuc.edu).
Registration brochures are also available at local U of I Extension
offices. Dates and locations are:
- Dec. 16--Mount Vernon, Holiday Inn
- Dec. 17--Bloomington, Interstate Center
- Dec. 18--Galesburg, Best Western Prairie Inn
- Dec. 19--Sycamore, Center for Agriculture
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Sue Esposito at
(217) 333-5506.
Source: University of Illinois
Extension
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Strength In Soybean
Numbers
“Increased membership.”That's a priority for
Johnny Dodson in his list of goals for the American Soybean Association
(ASA).
The new ASA president, who takes office in December, also sees continued
promotion of biofuels and biotechnology, implementation of the new farm
bill and stronger access to export markets as major issues for 2009 and
beyond.
Dodson, 49, grows soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat and rice and runs a
small beef cattle herd in western Tennessee near Halls. He admits he
thought twice about entering an ASA leadership role. Then his Tennessee
“volunteer” side kicked in. He's also counting on a team of other
ASA volunteers to help promote increased production efficiency and
profitability.
“We need more members,” stresses Dodson, while encouraging state
soybean organizations to take the same attitude toward increasing
membership rolls. “Membership is the lifeblood of any organization. We
have to encourage more soybean producers to become members in support of
ASA's farm and trade policy work.”
He reminds growers that ASA and state soybean associations help bring
about state and national legislation that promotes biofuels and overall
farm programs. “ASA is also the voice for soybean growers in
Washington on environmental issues and other programs that can impact
our production and marketing,” says Dodson.
To read more from this article about ASA new president, click here: cornandsoybeandigest.com/soybeans.
By Larry Stalcup
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Florida
Trains To Operate On 99% Biodiesel Fuel
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
(SFRTA) announced last week that Tri-Rail trains will operate on
biodiesel fuel, effective immediately. The goal is to operate trains on
a 99% blend.
“The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is committed to encouraging
the use of alternative fuels in the nation’s rail and bus systems,”
says FTA Administrator James Simpson, whose agency funded the
locomotives that will be part of Tri-Rail’s biodiesel fleet. “By
taking this important step, Tri-Rail is leading the way toward energy
independence.”
The biodiesel fuel will consist of either palm or soy oil, depending
upon availability. According to tests done at the Southwest Research
Center in San Antonio, TX, and funded by the FTA, Tri-Rail locomotives
use approximately 7% more fuel when operating on biodiesel; however, it
currently costs approximately 30¢/gal. less than diesel fuel, and the
environmental benefits outweigh the additional cost. Furthermore, the
possible environmental impact to the land in the event of a fuel spill
is significantly reduced with biodiesel, since it’s less harmful to
soil.
Additional benefits to using biodiesel in lieu of diesel are low
emissions, comparable power and efficiency, capability of being mixed
with diesel without modification and safer storage and transport.
Biodiesel is non-toxic, biodegradable and has a flashpoint of 300° F
compared to diesel’s flashpoint of 125° F.
For more information about biodiesel use in Tri-Rail conventional train
sets, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245) or click on the following SFRTA Web
link: www.tri-rail.com/announcements.htm#list26.
Source: South Florida Regional Transportation
Authority
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Soybeans No
Longer 'A Musical Fruit?'
Soybeans may drop off the list of musical fruit.
Scientists in Singapore are reporting victory over some consumers' No. 1
complaint about soy products – the “flatulence factor” caused by
indigestible soy sugars.
Scientists have now developed a method for significantly reducing the
amount of flatulence-causing carbohydrates in soy yogurt while raising
the levels of healthy antioxidants known as isoflavones.
In the study, Dejian Huang and colleagues note that soy yogurt has a
global market share of only 1.9%, even though it has a number of health
advantages over dairy-based yogurt. That's partly because of the
flatulence-causing compounds in soy. “It would be desirable to remove
the flatulence-causing raffinose and stachyose from the soy yogurt to
improve consumers' preferences. The objective of this study was to
develop a new soy yogurt enriched with isoflavones with reduced levels
of flatulence-causing oligosaccharides,” the scientists report.
The researchers grew soybeans in the presence of a fungus that produced
enzymes capable of degrading the undesired sugars. “We have
demonstrated for the first time that germinated black soybeans under
fungal stress can be fermented into a soy yogurt which features a low
amount of flatulence-causing oligosaccharides but with a significant
level of isoflavones,” says Huang.
To find out more about the study, click here: www.sciencedaily.com/releases.
Source: ScienceDaily news release
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A Note From The Soybean E-Digest
Editor: More About Soy Nuts And Relaxation
Last week, I informed readers about an article on the
relationship between an increase in soy food consumption and an increase
in your blood vessels’ ability to relax. Next, I reported on my
inspiration to begin eating at least a ¼ cup of roasted soy nuts (my
favorite soy food) each day to achieve better health and relaxation.
After only one week into my unscientific study, I can now report feeling
a tad bit more relaxed. The one real positive, which may or may not have
anything to do with eating soy nuts, is a general feeling each morning
that I’d had a more restful sleep at night.
Still, there is one potential drawback to increased soybean consumption,
which relates to the preceding article concerning the “flatulence
factor.”
Yes, I regretfully report that I did notice what I (and others)
perceived to be somewhat more frequent flatulence activity after adding
a significant amount of soy to my diet. For now, I have only anecdotal
evidence to support this perception. Also, in my exuberance to achieve
better health, I may have eaten more than the ¼ cup per day serving
suggestion mentioned above.
Enough said. So far, the benefits are outweighing the negatives, and I
plan to continue in my commitment to include soy foods, in moderation,
in my daily diet.
If you have a comment about soy food consumption, or any other topic
related to soybeans, I’d like to hear from you.
When writing, please let me know your name, where you farm or work, what
your comment is, and whether or not I have permission to use your
comment in a future Soybean E-Digest newsletter. You can contact
me (John Pocock) at: john.pocock@penton.com.
As always, you’re welcome to write to me if you have concerns or
questions about this issue. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks
for your readership – and farm on!
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