Soybean
Glycine max
Soybean (Glycine max) is a warm-season annual legume widely grown in Zones 3-9. As a nitrogen-fixing crop, it improves soil fertility and serves as an excellent rotation partner with corn and small grains. Average U.S. yields are approximately 50-53 bushels per acre, with grain used for animal feed, oil extraction, and direct human consumption including tofu and edamame.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
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Overview
Soybeans are classified by maturity group (MG), ranging from 000 (earliest, northern latitudes) to X (latest, tropical). Select maturity groups adapted to local latitude and growing season length. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum is recommended when planting in fields without recent soybean history. Soybeans fix 50-60% of their nitrogen needs; additional N fertilization is generally not recommended and may suppress nodulation. Row spacing of 15 inches or less improves canopy closure and weed suppression. Soybeans are sensitive to photoperiod — short days trigger flowering. Harvest at 13% moisture for optimal storage. As a rotation crop, soybeans break pest and disease cycles of cereals and contribute 40-60 lbs N/acre credit to the following crop.
Growing Season
- Plant
- mid April – early June
- Harvest
- late September – late October
- Frost-free days
- 100+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 1,700 – 2,200
Yield
- Typical yield
- 3,180 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
- Years to full prod.
- 1
- Labor
- 8 hrs/acre
Market Fit
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Market Channels
Climate Fit
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Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
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Equipment Requirements
planting
Grain drill for narrow rows (7.5-15") or planter for 30" rows.
harvesting
Flex header critical for low-set pods. Adjust cylinder speed to minimize seed damage.
In-field grain transfer and transport to storage or market.
spraying
Herbicide, fungicide, insecticide application.
Storage Requirements
Grain bin (on-farm)
Temperature
35–50°F
Max Storage
365 days
Finance Fit
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Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $10/$/bu |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $541 |
| Annual Operating Cost | —/acre |
| Establishment Cost | —/acre |
| Total Input Cost | $450/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $91 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
| Subsidies | ARC-CO, PLC |
Source: USDA NASS 2025 Crop Production Summary, USDA ERS, regional extension budgets (2025)
Risk Fit
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Known Risks
disease
Most damaging soybean pathogen. Causes stunting and yield loss, often without visible above-ground symptoms.
Oomycete favored by saturated soils. Causes damping-off and root/stem rot.
Fusarium virguliforme causing interveinal chlorosis/necrosis, root rot, premature defoliation.
pest
Colonizes growing points and leaf undersides. Economic threshold: 250 aphids/plant with increasing population.
weather
Most sensitive during flowering and pod fill. Drought during R3-R5 can reduce yields 40%+.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Soybean against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: USDA NASS, USDA PLANTS Database, NC State Extension, Penn State Extension, Michigan State Extension.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →
21 tracked changes across 9 data categories