Just as U.S. farmers envision the future for that tiny seed they plant at the beginning of each season, each link along the U.S. Soy value chain also plays a role in creating a bright future for the U.S. Soy industry.
Using technology to accurately analyze soybeans for protein and oil content farmers can better meet customer needs. The most common technology used is near-infrared (NIR), which quickly determines soybean oil and protein levels while also capturing moisture content.
At the elevator level, expanded use of NIR technology provides U.S. soybean farmers with the precise measurement needed to make seed-purchasing decisions that could lead to increased protein and oil content for the entire U.S. soy crop.
Data about which seed varieties produce higher levels of oil and protein gives U.S. farmers more control over the traits their crops possess and allows them to produce a crop with the qualities international customers want. By demanding these traits from the seed companies, it motivates those companies to emphasize such traits in their plant-breeding programs.
