Claire LeCanne, Angie Peltier, Matthew Pfarr, Lizabeth Stahl, Extension educators - crops
Market forces have resulted in lower farm-gate soybean prices through Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and local basis combinations. Soybean producers may wish to store soybeans if they feel they can capture higher prices later or if they simply have no acceptable market options in their geography. As soybeans are often sold right off the field it is helpful to review the principles for successful on-farm storage as some producers may wish to pivot.
Next let’s quantify the losses from the combine harvester. Most losses (90%) in soybean harvest come from the grain platform (Huitink 2020). Replace damaged sickle blades and blade guards to help with even and fast cutting. Check if the header is cutting low enough relative to the lowest pod height in each field. Harvest losses multiply when soybeans are still on the stem base.
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| Photo: Sara Berg |
Soybean storage options
Moisture is key but not the whole story for successful farm storage of soybeans. Soybean yield is typically normalized to 13% moisture and soybean buyers will pay full price for soybeans up to a moisture content of 13%. Also, grain bins will typically store 13% moisture soybeans for up to 6 months without spoilage at temperatures below 60°F.
However, even when soybeans are at the standard moisture content, the amount of pods, green soybeans and large, waxy, yellow soybeans in the grain will vary greatly depending on weather conditions and timing of harvest. Green pods and green soybeans tend to “float” to the walls of the bin during filling, creating a place for spoilage to begin. It is a good idea to put higher moisture soybeans into grain bins with full floor aeration to quickly equalize the moisture and temperature.
Although soybeans can be dried with high-temperatures, information from NDSU recommends keeping maximum drying temperatures below 130 °F to minimize damage, including the cracking of seed coats and the bean. If drying using heat, monitor soybean seeds for damage and adjust temperatures as needed. Keep in mind a 13% moisture content should be adequate when storing soybeans for up to 6 months, but for storage longer than 6 months, a moisture content of 11% is recommended. Safe storage times are cumulative, so for example, if you use up half of the safe storage life at a higher moisture content, you will only have half of the safe storage time left at a lower moisture content
Full University of Minnesota Extension schedules on moisture and temperature effects on grain spoilage can be found in Managing stored grain to minimize storage losses. A Crop News article specific to preventing stored grain pest issues is also available.
Source: Storing, Handling, and Drying Wet Soybeans, MN Crop News
Source: Considering pros, cons, of alternative grain storage methods, NDSU
Although soybeans can be dried with high-temperatures, information from NDSU recommends keeping maximum drying temperatures below 130 °F to minimize damage, including the cracking of seed coats and the bean. If drying using heat, monitor soybean seeds for damage and adjust temperatures as needed. Keep in mind a 13% moisture content should be adequate when storing soybeans for up to 6 months, but for storage longer than 6 months, a moisture content of 11% is recommended. Safe storage times are cumulative, so for example, if you use up half of the safe storage life at a higher moisture content, you will only have half of the safe storage time left at a lower moisture content
Full University of Minnesota Extension schedules on moisture and temperature effects on grain spoilage can be found in Managing stored grain to minimize storage losses. A Crop News article specific to preventing stored grain pest issues is also available.
Source: Storing, Handling, and Drying Wet Soybeans, MN Crop News
Alternative storage methods
Soybean producers may also look to alternative ways to store grain locally. NDSU has a nice resource on this topic. Specific to poly bag storage, the recommendation is both to store the grain in a north/south line for even solar heating and to monitor the soybeans frequently for signs of spoilage. Placing the poly bags in a well-drained area or high point on the landscape will reduce the risk of damage due to standing water. It is important to monitor grain stored in poly bags for damage due to weather and animal activity, as well as insect activity. Additionally, without the air movement of a modern grain bin, moisture content of the soybean grain should be carefully considered. Producers storing in poly bags should wait until the beans are evenly dry in the field and at a lower overall moisture content before harvesting and bagging. Most of the region has not yet experienced a fall frost to help equalize soybean desiccation and dryness.Source: Considering pros, cons, of alternative grain storage methods, NDSU
Source: Storing soy: Tips on keeping beans safe, dry, MSR&PC
Source: USDA FSA Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) website
Here is an example of the importance of soybean grain moisture when thought of strictly from a “sellable weight” perspective. Compare selling a 60 bushel soybean crop at the ideal 13.0% moisture to selling this same theoretical crop if it were harvested at 13.8% or 9% moisture.
Hauling directly to market – maximizing sellable moisture
Some soybean producers will still haul directly to market to honor forward contracts. Other producers are still weighing the benefits of cash sale in terms of selling the crop at its maximum weight, by eliminating the handling and bin shrinking that occurs with soybeans stored on-farm. The time value of money and cash flow positions should be considered for holding versus selling grain. While temporarily unavailable, recall that Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers Marketing Assistance Loans to help with cash flows, using the stored grain as collateral.Source: USDA FSA Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) website
Know your dockage schedules
Producers will want to make themselves familiar with dockage schedules of their local grain elevators before delivering grain.Table 1. Example elevator soybean moisture and price discount schedule.
| Moisture content range % |
Discount % of contract price |
|---|---|
| 13.1 - 13.5 | 1.5 |
| 13.6 - 14.0 | 3.0 |
| 14.1 - 14.5 | 4.5 |
Here is an example of the importance of soybean grain moisture when thought of strictly from a “sellable weight” perspective. Compare selling a 60 bushel soybean crop at the ideal 13.0% moisture to selling this same theoretical crop if it were harvested at 13.8% or 9% moisture.
Selling soybeans at 13.0% moisture
Considering a cash price of $10, the maximum per-acre return is $600 at 13.0% (maximum sellable moisture content before price discounts):
- 60 bu/ac x $10/bu = $600/ac
Selling soybeans at 13.8% moisture
The net return at 13.8% accounts for contract price discounts due to moisture content with some of the discounts offset by increased bushels. Let’s calculate sellable weight first:- Total pounds = 60 bushels per acre (bpa) x 60 pounds per bushel = 3600 pounds
- Pounds dry matter = 3600 pounds x 87% dry matter (100 - 13.0% moisture) = 3132 pounds dry matter.
- Pounds at 13.8% = 3132 lb/86.2% dry matter (100 - 13.8% moisture) = 3633 pounds
- BPA = 3633 lb/60 lbs per bushel = 60.55 bpa.
Selling soybeans at 9% moisture
Now let's calculate the net return at 9% moisture soybeans, taking the same 3123 pounds soybean dry matter of a 60 bpa soybean crop and accounting for moisture loss:- Total pounds = 60 bushels per acre (bpa) x 60 pounds per bushel = 3600 pounds
- Pounds dry matter = 3600 pounds x 87% dry matter (100 - 13.0% moisture) = 3132 pounds dry matter.
- Pounds at 9% = 3132/91% dry matter (100 - 9% moisture) = 3442 pounds
- BPA = 3442 lbs/60 lbs per bushel = 57.36 bushels
Harvesting successfully
Let’s finish by discussing a few elements needed to successfully harvest soybeans. A cutting angle of five degrees across the rows is generally recommended. This reduces the amount of soil and residue pushing along the cutterbar. A five degree angle allows for crosswinds to move dust and increases visibility from the cardinal north-south or east-west planting direction. Combine operators can angle their cut toward their right hand or left hand depending on the prevailing wind direction of the day.Next let’s quantify the losses from the combine harvester. Most losses (90%) in soybean harvest come from the grain platform (Huitink 2020). Replace damaged sickle blades and blade guards to help with even and fast cutting. Check if the header is cutting low enough relative to the lowest pod height in each field. Harvest losses multiply when soybeans are still on the stem base.
Adjust ground speed as appropriate to how well the stems are cutting and avoid pushing plants and debris with the cutterbar. Then, adjust reel speed to gather 10-25% faster than the ground speed. A full resource is available with additional harvest considerations: shattering, lodging, green stems, short plants with low pods, etc. from Michigan State University. To assess harvest yield losses, stop the combine in the middle of a pass to observe soybeans on the ground between the header and chaff as well as in the chaff. Every soybean pod (four seeds) in a square foot equates to one bushel of yield lost per acre. Aim for one to two bushels of harvest yield loss as an acceptable standard. At three bushels and above make adjustments and identify places to improve.
Other harvest considerations include harvesting patches of soybeans with tall waterhemp separately, and avoiding harvesting entirely in drown-out areas where there are only weeds and few soybeans. Both practices reduce weed seed spread. University of Minnesota Extension has recently partnered with Minnesota growers to test harvest time weed seed control. The combine attachment separates weed seeds from the chaff, then mechanically damages them to the point that they are no longer viable. In all combines, processing soybean chaff is the start of next year’s crop. Closely monitor soybean residue for desired sizing and spread. Under processed and bunched soybean residue can affect crop emergence and performance the following spring.
Lastly, review the harvest safety plan regarding combine harvester maintenance and fire mitigation. Regularly check engine oil and coolant while making sure the radiator fins are clear for proper air movement. Clean around the engine and make sure to remove dust - especially at high friction and heat points. Have fire extinguishers on the combine and make sure they are accessible from the ground level. In especially dry air conditions have a water truck on standby and tractor with cultivator to put out ground fires.
Other harvest considerations include harvesting patches of soybeans with tall waterhemp separately, and avoiding harvesting entirely in drown-out areas where there are only weeds and few soybeans. Both practices reduce weed seed spread. University of Minnesota Extension has recently partnered with Minnesota growers to test harvest time weed seed control. The combine attachment separates weed seeds from the chaff, then mechanically damages them to the point that they are no longer viable. In all combines, processing soybean chaff is the start of next year’s crop. Closely monitor soybean residue for desired sizing and spread. Under processed and bunched soybean residue can affect crop emergence and performance the following spring.
Lastly, review the harvest safety plan regarding combine harvester maintenance and fire mitigation. Regularly check engine oil and coolant while making sure the radiator fins are clear for proper air movement. Clean around the engine and make sure to remove dust - especially at high friction and heat points. Have fire extinguishers on the combine and make sure they are accessible from the ground level. In especially dry air conditions have a water truck on standby and tractor with cultivator to put out ground fires.
Source: Reducing Soybean Harvest Losses, Mike Staton, Michigan State University Extension
Hanson, A and D. Nicolai. Prevent stored grain pest issues before winter. MN Crop News
References
Huitink, G. (2020). Harvesting soybeans. In Arkansas soybean production handbook – MP197. (Chapter 14). University of Arkansas. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/mp197/chapter14.pdfHanson, A and D. Nicolai. Prevent stored grain pest issues before winter. MN Crop News
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