In the early '50s soybean meal became available as a low-cost, high protein feed ingredient, triggering an explosion in U.S. livestock and poultry production. The U.S. soybean industry began to look at ways to expand export markets. In 1956, the American Soybean Association began to promote U.S. soybeans in Japan. Today, farmers in over 29 states grow soybeans, making soybeans our second largest crop in cash sales. Every other row of soybeans grown goes into the export market.
Japan is the single largest soybean customer.
The European Union makes up the largest collective market. U.S. soybean farmers invest a portion of their income in promotion, education and research activities to help increase profits. At present, farmer funding supports more than 185 market expansion programs in over 70 countries. Farmer-funded research is in progress to cut production costs and to find new uses for soybeans and soybean products. With this committed investment in the soybean, the miracle crop faces an extremely bright future.