®

A n a g r i c u l t u r a l n e w s l e t t e r f o r k i d s f r o mM i s s i s s i p p i F a r m B u r e a u F e d e r a t i o n

This issue of Ag Mag is

compliments of:

Issues of Ag Mag can be ordered from the Women’s Department by contacting Pam Jones

at pjones@msfb.org or 601.977.4854.

AgMagSOYBEANS

The United States produces more soybeans than anywhere else inthe world.

Soybeans are the number-one row crop in Mississippi andare number three on the list of top commodities in the state.

Soybeans are in the legume family. A legume is a plant thatgrows fruit in pods that contain one or more seeds. Peas,

beans and peanuts are a few examples of other legumes.Soybeans were first cultivated in East Asia. They are called soyabeans in Europe.

Soybeans are planted from seeds. Farmers select which variety ofseed to plant based on favorable characteristics, such as droughtresistance, yield, hardiness, etc. In Mississippi, they are usually plantedbetween mid-April and late-July. When soybeans finish growing, they

remain in the field to dry to a certain moisture percentage, which makes their leaves turn brown and fall off. They are then readyto be harvested by a combine. The combine cuts the soybean plants, then separates the beans from the pods and cleans them.After a farmer’s soybean crop is harvested, it is sold for many different uses. Most soybeans are processed for oil and meal.Soybean meal is the fiber that remains after the oil is removed. Animal agriculture is a soybean farmer’s number-one customer.In fact, 98 percent of soy meal is used to make livestock feed for poultry, swine, beef and dairy cattle and to make pet food.A 60-pound bushel of soybeans yields about 48 pounds of protein-rich meal and 11 pounds of oil.

A much smaller portion of soybeans is used for human consumption. You may have had soy food products, such as soy milk, tofu,soy flour, edamame or soy sauce.

In addition to animal and human food products, some soybeans are purchased by the seed industry to make seed for nextyear’s crop. The seed industry is always researching and experimenting with ways to improve the way we grow soybeans. Newand improved varieties of seed are always being developed to give farmers an advantage over diseases and pests. Theseimprovements, made through sound scientific research, can also increase yields. In addition to seed companies, independentresearch by universities is also very important to the soybean industry in Mississippi.

Jerry SlocumOwnerNorth Mississippi Grain Company

Coldwater, Batesville,Locke Station

What is a grain elevator? A grain elevator is a group of steel or concrete buildings wherefarmers take the grain, like soybeans, corn, wheat, rice, etc.,which they harvest from their farms. They harvest the grainwith their combines, put it into big trucks and bring it to theelevator, where we unload the trucks and put the grain intothe storage buildings. After the farmers sell their grain to us,we put it in big trucks or on a train and send it to people whomake animal or human food.

What is North Mississippi Grain Co.? Who do you serve? North Mississippi Grain is a family-owned business, withoffices and grain elevators in Coldwater, Batesville andLocke Station. We serve farmers in 12 counties innorthwest Mississippi.

What type of education and skills do you need to do whatyou do? I have an agricultural engineering degree from MississippiState that has served me very well in my 41 years in thisbusiness. There are many people who work in grain elevatorswho don't have a college education but are smart people.Strong math and science skills are important. You need to bea good reader and be able to communicate with people, bothlistening and talking. You need to develop good people skills,as you will work with the public, have people working for youand probably will have at least one boss.

Do you enjoy what you do? I like what I do. There are parts of the job that are stressful,the days can be very long at times and sometimes people canbe hard to get along with, but I enjoy the challenges and Ienjoy working with our customers. Through 41 years, we havedeveloped a great group of customers, the finest people innorthwest Mississippi.

Kendall GarrawayRow Crop FarmerSoybean CommodityAdvisory Committee Chair

Hinds County

How many acres of soybeans do you grow? I grow about 1600 acres of soybeans a year on our family farmin Bolton.

Where do you market your crop? Most of our soybeans are sold to a grain elevator on theMississippi River in Vicksburg so that they can be transportedby barge to an end user.

How are soybeans used? Although you would rarely see a soybean unless you like to eatedamame, they have many uses in products that we see anduse every day. They are used to feed animals like chickens andfish. They are used to make biodiesel to have clean-burningfuel to power mass transit. They are crushed to get soy oil thatis used in cooking. They are also used to make ink to print withand crayons to color with. These are just a few of the manyuses of soybeans.

What type of education and skills do you need to be a rowcrop farmer? Row crop farmers need to be very educated in reading andwriting as well as math. Row crop farmers need to be able toadapt to change to produce more crop with fewer inputs and tohave a positive effect on the environment. Row crop farmersalso must be able to adjust to the weather since our office isoutside and is greatly affected by the weather. Row cropfarmers need to be able to communicate with others so thatthey can keep up with the latest information that will affect them.

Do you enjoy what you do? I love what I do and feel as though I am truly blessed to beable to farm and grow food and fiber that all people need. Ialso really like that much of my job is done outside and not inan office.

In 1907, at the age of 24, William J. “Bill” Morse went to work for the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Division of Forage Crops andDiseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, in Washington, D.C. Around this time, theUSDA was beginning to expand their research on soybeans. Morse workedclosely with Charles Piper, who was one of the first to see the potential ofgrowing soybeans in America. The pair wrote a book titled, “The Soybean:History, Varieties, and Field Studies.” This was Morse’s first out of more than80 publications about soybeans. Morse was also instrumental in founding theNational Soybean Growers’ Association, which later became the AmericanSoybean Association. He worked at the USDA for 42 years doing soybean andsoyfood research.

Faces of Mississippi’s Soybean Industry

SoybeansAgMag.qxp_Layout 1 6/2/16 10:43 AM Page 1

Soybeans are an important ingredient

used to make crayons. In fact, one acre of

soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

Moving up with SoySince 2002, the Statue of Liberty’s elevator has been using soy-based hydraulic fluid in place of petroleum-based fluid.Hats off to Lady Liberty for using renewable resources.

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONSHave a partner hold your balloon by the neck. Place the tip of the funnel inside the balloon neck and pour in 1/2 cup of potting soilor watering crystals. If you are using watering crystals, use only four to five spoonfuls. DO NOT TURN BALLOON OVER ONCE SOIL IS ADDED.

While your partner is still holding the balloon by the neck, add 1/4 cup water to the soil. Make sure soil is fully saturated but notsoupy. Next, drop the soybean seeds in the soil. Finally, it’s time to fill your balloon with air. Hold it gently by the neck and inflate itabout halfway full. Be careful not to add too much air, as it could cause the balloon to pop. Remember, it’s important not to turnthe balloon over once soil and seeds are added. Tie the balloon at the neck to keep air from escaping. Finally, tie a string around the knot. With the help of a friend or adult, hang the balloon near a window for sunlight. Make sure it isn’ttouching a window, because this may cause the balloon to pop. Keep a journal documenting what happens each day.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: • Large, clear balloons• Soybean seeds• Potting soil or watering crystals• Funnel• String• Water (1/4 cup) • Plastic cup

SOYBEANS

Glycerol

Fatty Acids

Sterols

Refined Soy Oil Soybean Lecithin Soybean Flour Concentrates & Isolates Soybean Meal

EDIBLE USESSeed

Stock FeedsSoy Sprouts

Baked SoybeansFull Fat Soy Flour

Bread Candy

Doughnut MixFrozen DessertsInstant Milk DrinksPancake Flour

Pie CrustRoasted SoybeansCandies/ConfectionsCookie Ingredients

Crackers Dietary ItemsSoynut ButterSoy Coffee

Traditional SoyfoodsMisoSoymilkSoy Sauce

Tofu

EDIBLE USESAlimentary Pastes

Baby FoodBakery Ingredients

Beer & AleCandy Products

CerealsDiet Food Products

Food DrinksGrits

Hypoallergenic MilkMeat ProductsNoodles

Prepared MixesSausage Casings

Yeast

TECHNICAL USESAdhesivesAntibiotics

Asphalt EmulsionsBinders-Wood/ResinCleansing Material

CosmeticsFermentation Aids/Nutrients

Films for PackagingInks

Leather SubstitutesWater-Based PaintsParticle Boards

PlasticsPolyesters

Pharmaceuticals

FEED USESAquacultureBee Foods

Calf Milk ReplacersCattle FeedsDairy FeedsFish Food

Fox & Mink FoodsPet Foods

Poultry FeedsProtein-Concentrates

Swine FeedsHulls

Dairy FeedFilter Material

High Fiber Breads

EDIBLE USESEmulsifying AgentsBakery Products

Candy/Chocolate CoatingsPharmaceuticalsNutritional Uses

DietaryMedical

TECHNICAL USESAnti-Foam Agents

AlcoholYeast

Anti-Spattering AgentsMargarine

Dispersing AgentsPaintInks

InsecticidesRubber

Stabilizing AgentsShortening

Wetting AgentsCalf Milk Replacers

CosmeticsPaint Pigments

EDIBLE USESCoffee CreamersCooking OilsFilled MilksMargarineMayonnaiseMedicinals

PharmaceuticalsSalad DressingsSalad Oils

Sandwich SpreadsShortenings

Soybeans are the only vegetable that contains

protein equal in quality to animal protein. A cup of

Edamame contains 17 grams of protein.

TECHNICAL USESAnti-Corrosion AgentsAnti-Static Agents

Caulking CompoundsCore OilsDiesel FuelDisinfectants

Dust Control AgentsElectrical Insulation

EpoxysFungicidesInks - Printing

Linoleum BackingMetal - Casting/Working

Oiled FabricsPaints

PesticidesPlasticizers

Protective CoatingsPutty

Soaps/ShampoosDetergentsVinyl PlasticsWallboard

Waterproof Cement

Soybeans are a huge part of our lives and come in manydifferent forms. Many uses you may have never thoughtabout. Circle the soy products you have used before.

N E U N O E N H D B E PI P M C I A A E V U N RA F S U E H E T H A I OR O M B G F T H S P B TG M Y L G E J I F H M ES O Y A R J L P C G O IS E D A M A M E P E C NL E U F O I B J O Q L X

WORD S EARCH

BIOFUELCOMBINEEDAMAMEFEEDGRAIN

LECITHINLEGUMEPROTEINSOYASOYBEAN

Adapted from the University of Wisconsin 4-H Extension

Adapted from the Iowa Soybean Association

WORD BANK

Is there Soy in my Candy Bar?

Most likely. Soy Lecithin is a byproduct of soybeanoil that is used to keep chocolate and cocoabutter from separating in a candy bar. It is alsosometimes used by bakeries to keep dough fromsticking and to help it rise. You may also find soylecithin in asthma inhalers, teabags, coughdrops and

prescription medications.

Soybean Oil Products Whole Soybean Products Soybean Protein Products

SoybeansAgMag.qxp_Layout 1 6/2/16 10:45 AM Page 2

®

A n a g r i c u l t u r a l n e w s l e t t e r f o r k i d s f r o mM i s s i s s i p p i F a r m B u r e a u F e d e r a t i o n

This issue of Ag Mag is

compliments of:

Issues of Ag Mag can be ordered from the Women’s Department by contacting Pam Jones

at pjones@msfb.org or 601.977.4854.

AgMagSOYBEANS

The United States produces more soybeans than anywhere else inthe world.

Soybeans are the number-one row crop in Mississippi andare number three on the list of top commodities in the state.

Soybeans are in the legume family. A legume is a plant thatgrows fruit in pods that contain one or more seeds. Peas,

beans and peanuts are a few examples of other legumes.Soybeans were first cultivated in East Asia. They are called soyabeans in Europe.

Soybeans are planted from seeds. Farmers select which variety ofseed to plant based on favorable characteristics, such as droughtresistance, yield, hardiness, etc. In Mississippi, they are usually plantedbetween mid-April and late-July. When soybeans finish growing, they

remain in the field to dry to a certain moisture percentage, which makes their leaves turn brown and fall off. They are then readyto be harvested by a combine. The combine cuts the soybean plants, then separates the beans from the pods and cleans them.After a farmer’s soybean crop is harvested, it is sold for many different uses. Most soybeans are processed for oil and meal.Soybean meal is the fiber that remains after the oil is removed. Animal agriculture is a soybean farmer’s number-one customer.In fact, 98 percent of soy meal is used to make livestock feed for poultry, swine, beef and dairy cattle and to make pet food.A 60-pound bushel of soybeans yields about 48 pounds of protein-rich meal and 11 pounds of oil.

A much smaller portion of soybeans is used for human consumption. You may have had soy food products, such as soy milk, tofu,soy flour, edamame or soy sauce.

In addition to animal and human food products, some soybeans are purchased by the seed industry to make seed for nextyear’s crop. The seed industry is always researching and experimenting with ways to improve the way we grow soybeans. Newand improved varieties of seed are always being developed to give farmers an advantage over diseases and pests. Theseimprovements, made through sound scientific research, can also increase yields. In addition to seed companies, independentresearch by universities is also very important to the soybean industry in Mississippi.

Jerry SlocumOwnerNorth Mississippi Grain Company

Coldwater, Batesville,Locke Station

What is a grain elevator? A grain elevator is a group of steel or concrete buildings wherefarmers take the grain, like soybeans, corn, wheat, rice, etc.,which they harvest from their farms. They harvest the grainwith their combines, put it into big trucks and bring it to theelevator, where we unload the trucks and put the grain intothe storage buildings. After the farmers sell their grain to us,we put it in big trucks or on a train and send it to people whomake animal or human food.

What is North Mississippi Grain Co.? Who do you serve? North Mississippi Grain is a family-owned business, withoffices and grain elevators in Coldwater, Batesville andLocke Station. We serve farmers in 12 counties innorthwest Mississippi.

What type of education and skills do you need to do whatyou do? I have an agricultural engineering degree from MississippiState that has served me very well in my 41 years in thisbusiness. There are many people who work in grain elevatorswho don't have a college education but are smart people.Strong math and science skills are important. You need to bea good reader and be able to communicate with people, bothlistening and talking. You need to develop good people skills,as you will work with the public, have people working for youand probably will have at least one boss.

Do you enjoy what you do? I like what I do. There are parts of the job that are stressful,the days can be very long at times and sometimes people canbe hard to get along with, but I enjoy the challenges and Ienjoy working with our customers. Through 41 years, we havedeveloped a great group of customers, the finest people innorthwest Mississippi.

Kendall GarrawayRow Crop FarmerSoybean CommodityAdvisory Committee Chair

Hinds County

How many acres of soybeans do you grow? I grow about 1600 acres of soybeans a year on our family farmin Bolton.

Where do you market your crop? Most of our soybeans are sold to a grain elevator on theMississippi River in Vicksburg so that they can be transportedby barge to an end user.

How are soybeans used? Although you would rarely see a soybean unless you like to eatedamame, they have many uses in products that we see anduse every day. They are used to feed animals like chickens andfish. They are used to make biodiesel to have clean-burningfuel to power mass transit. They are crushed to get soy oil thatis used in cooking. They are also used to make ink to print withand crayons to color with. These are just a few of the manyuses of soybeans.

What type of education and skills do you need to be a rowcrop farmer? Row crop farmers need to be very educated in reading andwriting as well as math. Row crop farmers need to be able toadapt to change to produce more crop with fewer inputs and tohave a positive effect on the environment. Row crop farmersalso must be able to adjust to the weather since our office isoutside and is greatly affected by the weather. Row cropfarmers need to be able to communicate with others so thatthey can keep up with the latest information that will affect them.

Do you enjoy what you do? I love what I do and feel as though I am truly blessed to beable to farm and grow food and fiber that all people need. Ialso really like that much of my job is done outside and not inan office.

In 1907, at the age of 24, William J. “Bill” Morse went to work for the U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Division of Forage Crops andDiseases, Bureau of Plant Industry, in Washington, D.C. Around this time, theUSDA was beginning to expand their research on soybeans. Morse workedclosely with Charles Piper, who was one of the first to see the potential ofgrowing soybeans in America. The pair wrote a book titled, “The Soybean:History, Varieties, and Field Studies.” This was Morse’s first out of more than80 publications about soybeans. Morse was also instrumental in founding theNational Soybean Growers’ Association, which later became the AmericanSoybean Association. He worked at the USDA for 42 years doing soybean andsoyfood research.

Faces of Mississippi’s Soybean Industry

SoybeansAgMag.qxp_Layout 1 6/2/16 10:43 AM Page 1