Soybean Values Drop Despite Highest Yield on Record

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Estimates indicate that lower soybean prices caused the value of Mississippi’s top row crop to drop below $1 billion for the first time since 2011 despite producers posting the second highest yield on record.

This year’s soybean crop has an estimated value of $930 million, a 26.4 percent decrease from $1.2 billion in 2014. Soybean is still the state’s third largest agricultural commodity. Only poultry and forestry, with estimated values of $3.2 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, posted higher values. Including this year’s estimate, the five-year average value for soybeans is nearly $1.1 billion.

Brian Williams, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said he expects the soybean market to level off in 2016, even with soybeans selling for about $2.20 per bushel less than last year.

“The biggest issue in 2015 was the price of soybeans,” Williams said. “We are expecting a marketing year average of around $8.87 a bushel compared to $11.10 a bushel in 2014.”

Growers produced a record 52 bushels per acre in 2014. The 2015 estimated yield is 46 bushels per acre, which is the second best ever recorded in Mississippi.

The 2015 crop surpassed 2014 in total acres harvested. Growers harvested an estimated 2.28 million acres this year compared with 2.19 million acres last year.

Williams credits the production boost to improved management practices, more available soybean varieties and advances in technology.

Extension soybean specialist Trent Irby said the 2015 growing season saw drastic extremes in weather, with a wet spring that delayed early plantings and a dry late summer that took a toll on yields in many areas of the state.