Omari Gates
Australia's soybean industry has set itself the ambitious target of doubling production by 2033. To achieve this, soybean development officers have been appointed to promote the economic and agronomic benefits of soybeans in key growing regions. Soybeans are easy to grow and have a positive impact on soil quality, but they face competition from other crops such as cotton, maize, and mung beans. With good water availability, nutrition, and insect control, soybean growers can achieve yields of 5t/ha, but downgrading can occur due to insect damage, weather, low protein, or small seed size.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Production goal | Double the production in the next decade |
| Production area | 21,000 ha over the summer |
| Expected yield | 40,000 tonnes |
| Production areas | From the Riverina in southern NSW to Far North Qld |
| Queensland's soybean area | 6,000 ha over the summer |
| New South Wales's peak soybean area | 36,600 ha in 2012-13 |
| Price forecast | $750-$900 per tonne |
| Yields | 3-3.5t/ha |
| Yields with good water availability, nutrition, and insect control | 5t/ha |
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What You'll Learn
Soybeans as a rotation crop
Soybeans are a great rotation crop due to their unique chemical composition, which is around 38% protein and 20% oil. They are a good source of vegetable protein and are also important in animal feed production. The composition of essential amino acids is especially necessary in monogastric feeding. Soybeans are also a good source of phytoestrogens and isoflavones, as well as poly-saturated fatty acids, vitamin B, fibre, calcium, folic acid, selenium, magnesium, manganese, iron and zinc.
Soybeans are legumes, and as such, they have bacteria on nodules on the roots of the plant. This bacteria takes nitrogen from the air and fixes it into the soil, so that other plants that require nitrogen can also use it. This is the nitrogen cycle, which is used in crop rotation. Soybeans are often rotated with grass crops such as corn or wheat, which are unable to take their own nitrogen from the air and so need either the nitrogen left in the soil by the legumes or a chemical fertilizer containing nitrogen.
Crop rotation is an important management tactic to reduce pests and diseases and improve biodiversity. By interrupting the life cycles of pests and diseases, farmers can prevent the accumulation of certain crop-specific diseases and reduce the quantity of crop-specific weeds. Rotation also helps to reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility and structure.
There are various crop rotation schedules that farmers can use. The most common is a two-year rotation, where a farmer will alternate a year of a legume with a year of a grass crop. A four-year rotation involves alternating between legumes and grass crops, but using four different crops.
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Water availability and nutrition
Water availability and good nutrition are key to achieving high yields of soybeans. With good water availability, the right nutrition, and regular insect control, yields of 5t/ha can be achieved. Soybeans are very beneficial as a legume in crop rotation; they are straightforward to grow and return a good amount of nitrogen to the soil.
Soybeans can be grown in rotation with crops such as sugarcane, cotton, maize, and mung beans. In the Wide Bay area, soybeans have been promoted as an ideal legume break crop for sugarcane since 2003. New soybean varieties, such as Hayman for the north and Burrinjuck in the south, have the potential to encourage the reintroduction of soybeans to crop rotations.
Good water availability is essential for achieving high yields of soybeans. In addition, timely harvesting is crucial to ensure that the soybeans make edible-grade. Insect monitoring is also important to prevent damage and maintain the quality of the soybean crop.
Soybeans are a good option for growers as they are straightforward to grow and have strong demand from food and feed manufacturers. With good growing conditions and proper nutrition, soybean growers have a great opportunity to achieve high yields and quality.
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Insect control
One way to control insects is to use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. This involves regular monitoring and surveillance of pest populations, as well as implementing preventive cultural and biological control measures. For example, you can conserve natural enemies of pests, such as predators and parasites, by providing a diverse habitat and reducing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides.
Another effective method is to use pheromone traps and lures to monitor and control insect pests. These traps use synthetic pheromones to attract and trap male insects, reducing the pest population and preventing mating. Mass trapping can also be employed, where a large number of traps are used to directly reduce the pest population.
In addition, biological control agents, such as insect pathogens and parasites, can be introduced to target specific pests. For example, the use of bacteria, viruses, or fungi that are specific to a particular pest can effectively control populations without harming non-target organisms.
Finally, it is important to practice crop sanitation and remove alternative pest hosts. This involves removing crop residues and volunteer plants that may harbour pests, as well as implementing proper storage and disposal methods to prevent the spread of insects and diseases. By combining these strategies, farmers can effectively manage insect pests and improve the yield and quality of their soybean crops.
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Yields and quality
Soybeans are a beneficial legume in crop rotation, providing agronomic and economic benefits. They are straightforward to grow and return a significant amount of nitrogen to the soil, improving soil fertility for subsequent crops. In addition, soybeans have strong market demand and a favourable price outlook, making them an attractive crop for growers.
The soybean industry in Australia is aiming to double its production by 2033 through increased plantings and improved agronomy. This expansion will benefit businesses that rely on soybeans for stockfeed and human consumption products. Additionally, soybeans play a crucial role in crop rotation with crops like sugarcane, cotton, and maize, enhancing soil health and crop diversity.
To ensure good yields and quality, it is essential to address potential issues such as insect damage, weather damage, low protein content, and small seed size. By implementing effective insect monitoring and control measures, providing adequate nutrition, and harvesting at the right time, growers can maximise the chances of producing high-quality, edible-grade soybeans.
Soybeans are a resilient and profitable crop for Australian farmers, offering economic and agronomic advantages. With the right growing conditions and management practices, soybeans can contribute significantly to crop production and soil health, making them a valuable component of Australia's agricultural landscape.
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Economic benefits
Soybeans are a resilient crop with a range of economic benefits for farmers in Australia. Firstly, soybeans are well-adapted to Australia's variable climate, which includes periodic droughts, water scarcity, and other challenging conditions. This is advantageous as Australia, being the driest inhabited continent, values effective water management. Soybeans have proven to be hardy, surviving hot, dry weather, pest infestations, and even floods, ensuring a harvest even in difficult years.
Secondly, soybeans are an ideal legume break crop, particularly for sugarcane farmers. They improve soil health and can be rotated with other crops like cotton, maize, or mung beans, enhancing the overall productivity of the land. This is especially beneficial given the high demand for these crops, which are major exports for Australia.
Thirdly, soybeans have strong price outlooks, with demand outstripping supply, leading to high prices for farmers. This is further improved by the fact that soybeans have the potential to produce higher protein outputs with additional research, making them even more valuable for stockfeed and human consumption.
Finally, soybeans have a positive environmental impact, reducing farming emissions and water consumption. This is an increasingly important factor for consumers and can provide a marketing advantage for Australian soybean producers, potentially commanding a higher price or attracting more consumers. Overall, soybeans offer a range of economic benefits for Australian farmers, from improved land productivity to high market prices and environmental advantages.
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Frequently asked questions
Soybeans are beneficial as a legume in the rotation; agronomically, they’re straightforward to grow, and they return a good amount of nitrogen to the soil.
A ballpark price forecast for soybeans harvested next year is $750-$900 per tonne, and yields comfortably at 3-3.5t/ha yield. With good water availability, the right nutrition, and regular insect control, 5t/ha can be achieved.
Downgrading can occur due to high insect or weather damage, low protein, or small seed size.
Some of the key growing regions for soybeans in Australia include the Riverina in southern NSW and Far North Qld.
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