Storing Soybeans For Optimum Value

U.S. soybean farmers work very hard to produce a quality crop that turns into an abundant supply of food, feed and fuel. Maintaining the value of that crop doesn’t stop when it’s harvested and in the storage bin. North Dakota State University Professor Kenneth Hellevang, Ph.D., offers these suggestions for storing soybeans:

1. Harvest your soybeans at the right moisture. The optimum moisture content to harvest for selling by spring is 13 percent. Recommendations lie at 11 to 12 percent for storage at 1 year or longer.
2. Consider allowable storage times. Storing soybeans with 13 percent moisture at a temperature of 70 degrees would allow for maximum storage of 70 days. Moisture should be closer to 11 percent to allow for longer storage throughout the following summer.
3. Control spoilage and insect infestation. Begin to cool soybeans throughout the fall and into winter. Continue to keep them cool going into summer.