Fun Facts About Soybeans

Soybeans can be used in everything from the food we eat, what farmers feed their animals to biodiesel to fuel our vehicles! Humans can enjoy this mighty protein powerhouse in a variety of foods such as soy burgers, soy sauce, tofu, soy milk and edamame. Animals can also benefit from soybean nutrition. More than 70 percent of soybeans produced in the U.S. is used for animal feed. Poultry and pig farmers are some of the top users. In Kansas, hog farms consume more than eight million bushels’ worth of soybean products. During processing, soybeans produce oil which can be used to make an advanced biofuel.

Other uses for soy and its byproducts include:

Cooking oil
Paint
Plastics
Cleaners
Candles
Crayons
Cosmetics

The Soybean Nutritional Profile

Soybeans, a member of the legume family, are composed of 80 percent meal and 20 percent oil. They are:

High in protein
High in fiber
Cholesterol-free
Lactose-free
Low in saturated fat
A good source of antioxidants

Soybean Production

Kansas is ranked 10th in the U.S. for soybean production with 4.7 million acres planted and close to 200 million bushels produced per year.

Soybean bushes are short and leafy. When they flower, they produce the fuzzy green pods we commonly recognize as edamame. As opposed to edamame, though, soybeans need more time to mature and harden before they can be harvested. Soybean farmers leave the bean pods on the bushes until they dry out and turn brown. Once harvested, the small, dried beans are separated from the pods and ready for processing.

Soybean Fun Facts

Who knew such a small bean could be soy multidimensional?! (See what we did there?) Here’s some fascinating soybean trivia.

Just one acre of soybeans can produce more than 82,000 crayons.
Many newspapers and textbooks use soy ink.
Coffee beans were replaced with soybeans during the Civil War.
Henry Ford used soybean plastic to make body panels for a car in 1941.
Diesel vehicles, including farm equipment, can use biodiesel, which is a renewable fuel made from soybeans.
Some studies say consuming soy can help reduce the risk of cancer and lower cholesterol.
A mature soybean plant has 60-80 pods.

Want to dig into the world of soybeans?