Soy SA

For many years now, soybeans have been the world’s most important source of protein meal and, after palm oil, the second most important source of edible oil. Approximately 85% of the total production of soy is as protein meal for animal feed. 2% of soy meal is processed further into soy flour and protein for human consumption.

Soybean is a convenient crop in the sense that its cultivation can be fully mechanized, it has relatively few pests and diseases and, in contrast to maize, peanuts or dry beans, is not subject to theft. In South Africa, yields of up to 5 ton per hectare have been achieved on a commercial level. The national mean yield for the past few years was just below 2 ton per hectare (2.17 ton per hectare in 2008/09), whereas 3 to 5 ton per hectare is a good average under irrigation. Input-output ratio fluctuates every year with the result that producers have to calculate break-even levels on an annual basis. The following example serves as a guideline. The break-even point for the Natal Super Soy competition in 2006 was 1.06 ton with a soy price of R800 per ton. In 2007, it was 0.9 ton per hectare with a soy price of R2750 per ton.

Soybean is one of the few summer crops that can be conveniently planted after wheat, making two harvests per year possible where moisture is not a limiting factor. Soybean is also the obvious alternative to maize in areas with a rainfall higher than 600mm. Soybeans react to climatic deviations in a manner different to maize, and for this reason act as a buffer against production risks. Drought stress is more critical for maize cultivation during the pollen shedding stage than for soybean during the flowering stage. Soybeans are harvested before maize and production practices synchronise well, spreading peak demand for implements over time.

The ARC – Agricultural Research Council released the Soy SA app that provides comprehensive and updated info on:

- Cultivar Information
- Pest & Disease Control Measures
- Soybean Production Guidelines
- Comprehensive Disease Information
- Comprehensive Pests Information
- Comprehensive Nematodes Information
- Comprehensive Nutritional Deficiencies Information
- Comprehensive Herbicides Damage Information