Grain Crops
Grain Crops

Soybean

Soybean

Soybean

About Soybeans in Kentucky

Soybean (Glycine max) is grown on approximately 1.3 million acres in Kentucky, generating about $300 million. State average yields are about 40 bushels per acre. Soybean meal is a high protein supplement for livestock, and soybean is gaining popularity in human diets as well. Biodiesel appears to be an expanding domestic market for U.S. soybeans. Approximately 30-40% of all U.S. soybeans are exported. Soybean originated in China where it has been grown as a food crop for centuries. Soybean was brought to the United States in the late 1800s or early 1900s, first as a forage crop. Farmers soon learned that growing soybean for seed was a much better option than growing soybeans for forage. Soybean gained in popularity in the United States around the 1940s and 1950s and is now the second-largest row crop (based on acreage) in the United States.

Resources

Soybean Crop Management

Newsletters & Reports

Publications

Nutrient Management

Soybean Marketing & Economics

Pest Management

Soybean Diseases

Soybean Insects

Soybean Weeds

Soybean Handling & Harvesting

Contact Information

423 Plant Sciences Lexington, KY 40546-0312