Soybean Harvest Moisture Content, Risk, and Reward

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By Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team

Looking at a soybean field and knowing what the products will yield, within a bushel or two, takes a special eye and skill. A skill that not everyone possesses, myself included. Conversely, knowing when to start combining soybeans, to get the highest yield and still get the highest moisture possible without being docked, takes skill as well.

The table below shows the revenue per acre lost when combining soybeans in situations where the moisture starts to drop below 13 percent. The table shows revenue lost on 1 acre to 1000 acres. The average yield and value per bushel used was 62.5 bushel and $11.26/acre also shown in the table below.

If you are curious as to what the numbers are like on your farm, go to the Dairyland Seed website www.dairylandseed.com click on the Agronomy tab, then choose Tools and select Soybean Lost Revenue Calculator.

As you fill in the tabs for acres, moisture level, yield and price, a table will appear with the revenue “lost” per acre while harvesting beans with moisture content less than 13%. After reviewing the numbers on the Dairyland Seed Soybean Lost Revenue Calculator, it may help to start harvesting soybean a day or two earlier to retain more yield and revenue per acre.

As always, if you have questions regarding this or other Agronomic topics, contact your local Dairyland Seed Agronomist or DSM. Have a safe harvest season.