USDA Drops Colorful Soybeans from Standards Criteria: A Monochromatic Move

US: Soybeans of other colors are removed by the USDA from the standards criteria. Farmers of Soybeans in the United States can stop stressing that their beans won't pass this fall owing to improper coloring. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) formally removed Soybeans of other colors (SBOC) as a grade-determining criterion by publishing a final rule to the Federal Register on Friday, updating the U.S. Standards for Soybeans.

The Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) will no longer evaluate yellow Soybeans based on more than three basic characteristics: splits, foreign material, and damaged kernels. SBOC will no longer be a factor in grading, although it will still be made available upon request for informational purposes only. To coincide with the start of the new Soybean marketing year, the modification will take effect on September 1.

The USDA's cooperation in helping us find a resolution to this problem, USDA to implement the regulation by September 1 to be eligible for the new crop marketing year.

In the past, SBOC levels were minimal and infrequently had an impact on the grade of Soybeans. However, over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of Soybeans that didn't receive a No. 1 grade because of SBOC of 1% or more. According to data released by FGIS in February, 7.81% of graded Soybeans in 2021 and 16.88% in 2022 had SBOC levels that exceeded the cutoff for No. 1 yellow Soybeans. In contrast, during the previous ten years, that proportion was never higher than 1.22%.

The growth in acres planted to Enlist E3 Soybeans, which have proven popular with growers battling herbicide-resistant weeds, has coincided with the growth in SBOC percentages. According to information provided by Corteva in September, the proportion of U.S. Soybean acres planted to Enlist E3 increased from less than 5% in 2019 to more than 45% in 2022.

Some discolored seeds are naturally produced by Soybeans. Genetics, the environment, pests, and illness are all potential contributors to color. Since the invention of the technology, off-color Enlist beans have been reported to appear. However, due to SBOC, greater amounts of Soybeans entering the grain stream have been unable to meet No. 1 grade requirements, which has caused problems for grain buyers and exporters.

To determine if the presence of SBOC influences the quality of Soybean protein and oil, FGIS carried out a study in 2022. There were no appreciable variations in the protein or lipid contents.

The marketability of U.S. Soybeans has decreased in comparison to those from other exporting nations because of the increase in the percentage of SBOC in officially graded Soybean lots during the previous two years. Houston highlighted that other Soybean exporters throughout the world do not use color as a grading indicator.

The change in grading requirements was well received at The DeLong Co. Inc. in Clinton, Wisconsin, one of the leading producers of food-grade corn and Soybeans to the Midwest.

Since most traded Soybeans are used for crushing and SBOC has little to no impact on the price of the oil or meal, eliminating SBOC as a grade-determining criterion was a wise decision, according to Bo DeLong, the company's export sales group leader. SBOC can still be graded and listed on the grade certificate for the smaller "food-grade" market. Just that the grade isn't based on it. I think it won't influence export sales.

Over this time, there has been a rise in the amount of seed coat variation in U.S. Soybeans, and as a result, more Soybeans have had their SBOC ratings reduced. The USDA is aware of how crucial uniform and widely accepted grade standards are to the marketability of agricultural products. The official U.S. grade-determining factors and factor limits will be more effectively implemented thanks to the final rule that was issued.

Corteva is dedicated to offering farmers cutting-edge solutions that enable them to achieve their operational objectives. USDA AMS released its final rule deleting Soybeans of other colors (SBOC) as an official factor from the United States Standards for Soybeans. Corteva concurs with USDA's mission to make information accessible to all parties involved.