Soybean Harvest Moisture Content, Risk, and Reward

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 My DS tab and choose the 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 percent.

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.

Brian Weller
Western Region
507.456.3034

Rod Moran
Western Region
507.456.3034

Dan Ritter
Central Region
219.863.0583

Chad Staudinger
Northern Region
608.220.9249

Mark Gibson
Eastern Region
260.330.8968

Amanda Goffnett
Eastern Region
989.400.3793

Ryan Mueller
Eastern Region
989.400.3793

Enjoying our Agronomy Updates? Suggestions for topics you'd like us to weigh in on? Drop us an email at dairylandseed@dairylandseed.com. We'd love to hear from you!