A History of Soybean Yields

Tidbits last week highlighted trends in corn yields in Nebraska. This week Tidbits turns its attention to soybean yields. Like corn yields, soybean yields have improved since 2000. Last year’s average soybean yield, 57.5 bushels per acre, was 6 bushels higher than 2023 and nearly 51% greater than the yield in 2000 (Figure 1). Recall that the average corn yield improved 50% over the same period. Since 2000, the growth in soybean yields averaged .81 bushels per year. Additional irrigated acres, better seed genetics, improved management, and the adoption of precision technologies powered the growth.

Last year’s county average yields are shown in Figure 2. Data is not reported for counties in grey. Lincoln County had the highest average yield at 72.3 bushels per acre, trailed by Red Willow County with 69.3 bushels. It’s somewhat surprising the top yields occurred in these two counties. They are outside what is generally thought of as the prime soybean production area of the eastern third of the state. The average yield in Pawnee County was the state’s lowest at 40 bushels per acre.