Each year, U.S. soybean farmers must address all the demands of their various customers. And customers exist far beyond just the local elevator. One demand proves to be soybeans with high levels of oil and protein, suitable for high-protein meal. To ensure that U.S. soybeans meet oil and protein levels customers demand, the soybean checkoff funds an annual crop quality survey and has conveyed results to major international customers.

The results: The 2009 U.S. Crop Quality Survey demonstrated that U.S. soybean quality, despite extremely challenging planting and harvesting
seasons, was good. The 2009 crop has nearly identical quality characteristics to the longterm average (35.3 percent protein and 18.7 percent
oil). Here’s how last year’s soybean crop fared:

Compared with 2008 crop…
• Protein: 1.2 percent higher at 35.3 percent
• Oil: 0.5 percent lower at 18.6 percent.