Go West, Young Beans

 

 

 

In the 19th century, author Horace Greeley’s entreaty for Civil War veterans, “Go West, young man,” resonated with people willing to work hard for the opportunities embedded in the fertile farmland of the western United States. Today, some farmers west of the Mississippi River will soon get the chance to take their operations to the next level as high oleic soybean varieties become available in their areas.

 

Farmers in Iowa and Nebraska are excited about the opportunities that will be coming their way in the near future with high oleic soybeans, which produce an oil with the potential to regain market share for soybean oil and enhance profitability for farmers. Farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic have had great success growing high oleic varieties over the past five years.

 

“When high oleic soybeans come West and are available in my area, I hope to plant them because I know the value is there and I know that we need to regain soybean-oil markets,” says Gregg Fujan, a farmer from Weston Nebraska, and farmer-leader with the soy checkoff.

 

“High oleic soybeans offer new profitability options.” – Gregg Fujan, Nebraska farmer

Fujan says this is particularly important when margins tighten on the farm.

 

“Over the years, you’ve seen specialty crops gain popularity during times of lower prices,” says Fujan. “As traditional profit opportunities get smaller, people look to capture a little extra where they can.

 

“And from what I’ve heard from farmers who have planted high oleic soybeans, the genetics that DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto have put forth yield as well as elite varieties,” says Fujan. “The genetics are there and ready, and the only reason we haven’t seen them sooner are delays in the regulatory process.”

 

But western soybean farmers aren’t the only ones excited about the expansion of the high oleic growing area.