This statistic shows the ten U.S. states in soybean production from 2019 to 2024. Illinois topped the list in 2024, with almost 688 million bushels produced that year. Soybean industry Soybeans are among the major agricultural crops planted in the United States, behind only corn. They belong to the oilseed crops category and most U.S. soybeans are planted in May and early June and are harvested in late September and October. Production practices show that U.S. farmers commonly grow soybeans in crop rotation with corn. More than 80 percent of soybeans are cultivated in the upper Midwest. The Unites States counted Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota as their leading soybean producing states as of 2022. Historical data shows that large-scale soybean production did not begin until the 20th century in the United States. However, recent statistics illustrate that the acreage of the dominant oilseed crop has expanded rapidly. The expansion of soybean acreage was favored by several factors including low production costs and a greater number of 50-50 corn-soybean rotations. Furthermore, soybeans were one of the first crop types that achieved commercial success as bioengineered crops. The first genetically modified (GM) soybeans were planted in the United States in 1996. They possess a gene that confers herbicide resistance.The usage of soybeans ranges from the animal food industry over human consumption to non-food products. The highest percentage of soybeans goes to the animal feed industry. The products intended for human consumption include products such as soy milk, soy flour or tofu.

In 2024, an estimated 4.36 billion bushels of soybeans (or soya beans) were produced in the United States, a significant increase compared to the previous year. Soya beans in the U.S. Alongside the production volume of soybeans, the production value increased in the United States in 2020: the production value of soybeans stood at about 36.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 and increased to roughly 57.5 billion U.S. dollars three years later. The states that produced the highest volume of soybeans in 2022 were Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, respectively. Leading soybean producers worldwide Since the marketing year of 2012/2013, the United States and Brazil have been the leading producers of soybeans worldwide. Producing about 139 million metric tons of it, Brazil was clearly in the lead in 2021/2022. Other noteworthy countries in terms of soybean production included Argentina, China, and India.

This statistic shows the leading countries in soybean production worldwide from 2012/13 to 2023/24. From 2015/16 to 2018/2019, the United States was the leading global producer of soybeans with a production volume of 120.52 million metric tons in 2018/2019. As of 2019, Brazil overtook the United States as the leading soybean producing country with a production volume of some 162 million metric tons in 2022/23. Soybean production Soybeans are among the major agricultural crops sowed in the United States, behind only corn. They belong to the oilseed crops category and the majority of U.S. soybeans is planted in May and early June and is harvested in late September and October. Production practices show that U.S. farmers commonly cultivate soybeans in crop rotation with corn. More than 80 percent of soybeans are grown in the upper Midwest. The Unites States reported Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota as their leading soybean producing states in 2022. Historical data demonstrates that large-scale soybean production did not commence until the 20th century in the United States. However, the latest statistics illustrate that the acreage of the dominant oilseed crop has expanded rapidly. The certain increase of soybean acreage was supported by several factors including low production costs and a greater number of 50-50 corn-soybean rotations. Furthermore, soybeans were one of the first crop types that accomplished commercial success as bioengineered crops. The first genetically modified (GM) soybeans were cultivated in the United States in 1996. They possess a gene that confers herbicide resistance.The usage of soybeans ranges from the animal food industry over human consumption to non-food products. The highest percentage of soybeans goes to the animal feed industry. The product portfolio intended for human consumption include products such as soy milk, soy flour or tofu.

The data represents U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat production starting from 1984.

The Census of Agriculture, produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides a complete count of America's farms, ranches and the people who grow our food. The census is conducted every five years, most recently in 2022, and provides an in-depth look at the agricultural industry.This layer was produced from data obtained from the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Large Datasets download page. The data were transformed and prepared for publishing using the Pivot Table geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Pro and joined to county boundaries. The county boundaries are 2022 vintage and come from Living Atlas ACS 2022 feature layers.Dataset SummaryPhenomenon Mapped: 2022 Soybean ProductionCoordinate System: Web Mercator Auxiliary SphereExtent: 48 Contiguous United States, Alaska, and HawaiiSource: USDA National Agricultural Statistics ServicePublication Date: 2022AttributesNote that some values are suppressed as "Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations", "Not applicable", or "Less than half the rounding unit". These have been coded in the data as -999, -888, and -777 respectively.Soybeans - Acres HarvestedSoybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (1.0 To 24.9 Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (25.0 To 99.9 Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (100 To 249 Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (250 To 499 Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (500 To 999 Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area Harvested - Area Harvested: (1,000 Or More Acres)Soybeans - Operations With Area HarvestedSoybeans - Operations With SalesSoybeans - Production, Measured In BushelsSoybeans - Sales, Measured In US DollarsSoybeans, Irrigated - Acres HarvestedSoybeans, Irrigated - Operations With Area Harvested In Alaska, one or more county-equivalent entities (borough, census area, city, municipality) are included in an agriculture census area.

Soybean production in Brazil is concentrated in the so-called Central-South region. In crop year 2023/24, production of this oilseed was forecast to surpass 147 million metric tons, out of which nearly 74 percent would be produced in the Central-West and South regions. In 2023, the state of Mato Grosso alone represented over 28 percent of the Brazilian soybean export value.

United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Oil: Production data was reported at 31,785.000 lb mn in 2034. This records an increase from the previous number of 31,470.000 lb mn for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Oil: Production data is updated yearly, averaging 30,180.000 lb mn from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31,785.000 lb mn in 2034 and a record low of 26,265.000 lb mn in 2022. United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Oil: Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RI010: Agricultural Projections: Soybeans and Products.

Product Type:In 2023, the US Soybean Market segmented by product type into soybean meal, soybean oil and whole soybean.Soybean meal asserts dominance in the product type segmentation owing to its critical function as a high-protein feed ingredient in the livestock and poultry sectors. Recognized for its nutritional richness and adaptability in feed formulations, soybean meal holds a prominent and indispensable position in the market, meeting the protein requirements of animals efficiently and cost-effectively. USA Soybean Market Segmentation The Midwest region, often referred to as the "Soybean Belt," dominates the USA soybean market. States like Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota lead in soybean production due to favorable climatic conditions and extensive farming infrastructure. For instance, Illinois alone produced over 600 million bushels of soybeans in 2023, making it the top soybean-producing state.

Global Soybeans Production by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Soybeans are a popular source of protein among Americans who abstain from consuming animal products. The production value of soybeans in the United States amounted to 52.81 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Soy Consumption in the United States Soy products find their way into American diets on a daily basis. Soybean oil is a popular ingredient in margarine as well as other processed foods. In 2021, consumption of soybean oil in the United States reached 11.4 million metric tons, the highest volume it has been in the last two decades. Soy Milk Soy milk is a very common plant-based milk alternative which is expected to become even more popular in the coming years, perhaps due to the increasing popularity of plant-based diets among Americans. The share of Americans who eat soy foods or drink soy beverages increased between 2011 and 2019. Soy beverage sales in the United States is expected to increase over the next few years.

Statistics illustrates consumption, production, prices, and trade of Crude Soybean Oil in the United States from Jan 2019 to Feb 2025.

The US soybean farming industry is navigating significant changes in the current period, with soybean prices determining the initial rise and recent decline in industry performance. These prices have been influenced by several key factors, including the growing demand for biofuels and mixed consumer perceptions regarding soy products. The demand for soybean oil in biofuel production surged due to supportive policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard and rising crude oil prices, creating a lucrative market for soybean producers. However, subsequent drops in fertilizer and crude oil prices, paired with record-high soybean production, have sharply dropped soybean prices, bringing revenue and profit down with them as farmers struggle to balance costs with lower incomes. Industry has shrunk a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%, with a decrease of 8.7% in 2025, reaching an estimated $44.2 billion. US soybean exports are facing mounting challenges due to competitive pressures abroad and quickly evolving trade policy. Brazil’s increased production and improved export infrastructure have strengthened its position as a major supplier, particularly to China, which is reducing its reliance on US soybeans. This shift threatens US exports and compels American farmers to reassess their strategies, focusing on market diversification and emphasizing quality and sustainability to remain competitive. Rising geopolitical tensions and newly imposed tariffs, such as those affecting key markets like the EU, Canada and China, have further complicated trade, impacting US farmers' access and pricing power in these vital markets. Through the end of 2025, soybean prices are initially projected to decline due to increased production and growing global supplies. However, as climate change impacts crop yields through extreme weather and pest challenges and supplies become limited prices will be pushed upward alongside rising global demand. Subsidies will continue to play a vital role in supporting farmer incomes amids these fluctuations, providing some stability to an otherwise highly volatile industry. However, the industry faces significant uncertainty due to the ongoing USDA funding freeze is creating significant uncertainty, particularly where government support and subsidies are concerned. This freeze is affecting a wide range of agricultural programs including conservation efforts, market development, research and technical assistance. Over the next five years, the industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.3%, with revenues reaching $47.1 billion by the end of 2030.

Statistics illustrates consumption, production, prices, and trade of Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing in the United States from 2013 to 2024.

United States Long Term Projections: Soybeans: Production data was reported at 4,880.000 Bushel mn in 2034. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,835.000 Bushel mn for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Soybeans: Production data is updated yearly, averaging 4,581.984 Bushel mn from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,880.000 Bushel mn in 2034 and a record low of 4,162.057 Bushel mn in 2023. United States Long Term Projections: Soybeans: Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RI010: Agricultural Projections: Soybeans and Products.

Dataset Abstract:

Field-level monitoring of crop types in the United States via the Cropland Data Layer (CDL) has played an important role in improving production forecasts and enabling large-scale study of agricultural inputs and outcomes. Although CDL offers crop type maps across the conterminous US from 2008 onward, such maps are missing in many Midwestern states or are uneven in quality before 2008. To fill these data gaps, we used the now-public Landsat archive and cloud computing services to map corn and soybean at 30m resolution across the US Midwest from 1999-2018. Our training data were CDL from 2008-2018, and we validated the predictions on CDL 1999-2007 where available, county-level crop acreage statistics, and state-level crop rotation statistics. The corn-soybean maps, which we call the Corn-Soy Data Layer (CSDL), are publicly hosted on Google Earth Engine and also available for download on Zenodo.

Summary of Methods:

Using Google Earth Engine, we trained a random forest classifier to classify each pixel of the study area into corn, soybean, and an aggregated "other crops" class. CDL 2008-2018 data were used as labels. The features input to the model were harmonic regression coefficients fit to the NIR, SWIR1, SWIR2, and GCVI bands/indices of time series from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 Surface Reflectance observations. Cloudy pixels were masked out using the pixel_qa band provided with Landsat Surface Reflectance products.

Map Legend:

• 0 = outside study area
• 1 = corn
• 5 = soy
• 9 = other crop
• 255 = non-crop (masked by NLCD)

Values were chosen to be consistent with CDL values when possible.

Usage Notes:

We recommend that users consider metrics such as (1) user's and producer's accuracy with CDL and (2) R² with NASS statistics across space and time to determine in which states/counties and years CSDL is of high quality. This can be done with the CSV file of user's and producer's accuracies included in this Zenodo, and annual county-level statistics and example code we have included in our repo at https://github.com/LobellLab/csdl.

United States Production of Soybean grew 16.4% in 2020, compared to a year earlier.

United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Meal: Production data was reported at 63,100.000 Short Ton th in 2034. This records an increase from the previous number of 62,600.000 Short Ton th for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Meal: Production data is updated yearly, averaging 60,250.000 Short Ton th from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63,100.000 Short Ton th in 2034 and a record low of 52,564.000 Short Ton th in 2022. United States Long Term Projections: Soybean Meal: Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RI010: Agricultural Projections: Soybeans and Products.

Eigenvalues, % variance, and % cumulative variance associated with the principle components (PC).

The Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States, in place since 1943, evaluate yield, disease resistance, and quality traits of public breeding lines from the southern states of the USA. The annual reports which compile the test results (PDF format) are available, and new reports are added annually. The Uniform Soybean Testing Program has been directed toward the testing of elite breeding lines that ultimately leads to the release of varieties. Breeding lines are developed and evaluated in several participating federal and state research programs. As breeding lines demonstrate specific qualities in the individual programs, they are advanced to the preliminary and uniform regional tests conducted in cooperation with research workers in the southern states. This testing program enables breeders to evaluate new strains under a wide variety of conditions, and permits new strains to be put into production in a minimum amount of time. A wide range of soil and climatic conditions exists in the regions. As an aid in recognizing regional adaptation, the region has been subdivided into five rather broad areas which still represent a wide range of soil types. These are: (1) the East Coast, consisting of the Coastal Plain and Tidewater areas of the eastern shore of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and the upper half of South Carolina; (2) the Southeast, consisting primarily of the Coastal Plain soils of the Gulf Coast area, but also including similar soil from South Carolina, southward; (3) the Upper and Central South, including the Piedmont and loessial hill soils east of the Mississippi River; (4) the Delta area, composed of the alluvial soils along the Mississippi River from southern Missouri, southward; and (5) the West, comprising Arkansas and Louisiana (outside the Delta), Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In the West, the potential soybean-growing areas would include alluvial soils, and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. Germplasm exchange among breeding programs is the foundation of breeding progress. The purpose of the Uniform Soybean Test is to facilitate the free exchange of germplasm in an effort to maximize genetic diversity and provide well-adapted, stable breeding lines and varieties in the pursuit of breeding progress. Participants are encouraged to exchange germplasm within the legal guidelines pertaining to transgenic strains. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Website Pointer to Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States. File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/stoneville-ms/crop-genetics-research/docs/uniform-soybean-tests/ The Uniform Soybean Tests, Southern States, since 1943, evaluate yield, disease resistance and quality traits of public breeding lines from the southern states of the USA. The annual reports which compile the test results are available.

The United States is a major producer of soybeans worldwide, with China importing the largest amount of U.S. grown soybeans of any country as of 2021. In that year, China imported nearly 14.15 billion metric tons of soybeans from the United States.

Soy foods Soybeans are naturally high in protein and hence a popular ingredient in vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Soy milk is a vegan and lactose-free alternative to cow’s milk, and soy sauce features heavily in East Asian cuisine. Tofu, tempeh, and miso are also all derived from soy. In the United States, the market value of soy food is expected to reach 9.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2020, up from 4.6 billion dollars in 2014.

Soybean production in the United States The United States produces the highest volume of soybeans of any country, at around 120 million metric tons in 2020/2021. In the previous year, the total value of U.S. soybean production amounted to about 39.13 billion U.S. dollars. Within the United States, the states with the most soybean cultivation are located in the Midwest. Illinois topped the list with over 673 million bushels of soybeans produced in 2021.