uality

1997 Indiana Soybean Composition Data

Dirk E. Maier, Jason Reising, & Jenni L. Briggs, Agricultural & Biological Engineering;

Ralph W. Gann, Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service

This fact sheet summarizes the composition data compiled for soybean samples collected in Indiana during the 1997 harvest. District results are represented and composition data from the 1996 crop year is compared.

Methodology

Soybean samples were taken directly from the field as part of the annual yield survey conducted by the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service. All samples were analyzed for moisture, protein, oil, and fiber using a near-infrared transmittance (NIT) whole grain analyzer (Infratech 1229) available at the Purdue University Grain Quality Laboratory in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Samples from 8 districts were obtained. The SE district was not represented. All results are reported based on 13% moisture (wet basis).

There were 44 samples available for compositional analysis. Given the number of samples from each crop-reporting district, all of the districts were underrepresented based on the total acres harvested per sample (Table 1). It is hoped that in the future, the number of samples can be increased to achieve a production per sample ratio of 2 million bushels, which is similar to the target of the annual American Soybean Association survey.

Results

The 1997 data showed that the average statewide protein content increased by 0.5% over 1996 (Table 2), while the spread between minimum and maximum points decreased from 11.6 in 1996 to 11.2 in 1997 for a 0.4% drop. The average oil content was up 0.4% from last year and the spread between the range of points

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increased 0.9% from 4.3 points in 1996 to 5.4 points in 1997. The average fiber content decreased 0.5% from 1996 while the spread within the range remained the same for both years at 0.9 points.

In upcoming years, as our database begins to grow, a comprehensive comparison between Indiana districts will be possible. Currently, it is not possible to draw statistical inferences based on the low number of samples available thus far.

The results in Table 2 only give an indication of the composition values of soybeans across Indiana. Conditions during the growing season, variety selection, and soil fertility significantly affect intrinsic values. Producers need to have their own samples analyzed to get more precise values. Purdue University's Grain Composition Analysis Service offers NIR analysis on whole corn, soybeans, and soybean meal. This service is offered at no charge to Indiana producers, elevators, and processors thanks to a Value-

Added Grant from the Office of Indiana's Commissioner of Agriculture. 450 g (about 1 lb.) may be sent to:

Grain Quality Laboratory
1146 ABE
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1146

For further information, call (765) 494-2285, or send e-mail to grainlab@ecn.purdue.edu.

Grain Quality Fact Sheets can be accessed on-line through the World Wide Web at:

http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/grain.htm
(select) Grain Quality
or http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~grainlab
(select) On-Line Extension Publications
(select) Grain Quality Fact Sheets
Almanac: send e-mail to: almanac@ecn.purdue.edu

message:

send grain guide
or send grain catalog
or send grain factsheet #36 (for example)
or send acsonline GQ-36

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