North Dakota Soybean Yields Tempered by Cool Spring

By Jeff Beach

FARGO — Cool weather at planting is expected to limit yields on North Dakota’s soybean crop. 

North Dakota’s soybean crop is expected to hit 36 bushels per acre compared with a national projection of 53.6 bushels per acre. 

The North Dakota Soybean Council provided an update on the crop Wednesday while hosting a trade delegation for China, typically a huge market for North Dakota soybeans. 

“This spring, we were very cold, so you push back the planting dates. Anytime you push back planting dates, your chances of a real big yield kind of go away,” said Milo Braaten, who farms west of Portland in eastern North Dakota. 

Because of its cooler climate, North Dakota soybeans yields are often lower than states farther south. Yields are typically highest in southeast North Dakota but drop off to the west and north. 

North Dakota farmers plant more acres to soybeans than any other crop, but acreage was down about 10% this year. Braaten attributed that to a poor market for soybeans and other crops showing more potential for profits.  

North Dakota soybean harvest is expected to begin in about five weeks, in late September or early October.

North Dakota ranks fourth nationally in soybean production, with most of the crop exported through the Pacific Northwest to Asian markets, primarily China. 

Avery Hansen, international market development specialist for the North Dakota Soybean Council, gave a presentation to the China trade team. The trade delegation was also scheduled to visit a farm near Wahpeton and a grain elevator near Mooreton. 

It is unclear if China will buy U.S. soybeans in the near term as trade negotiations continue between the two countries. Trade issues were not discussed at the meeting. 

North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach can be reached at [email protected]. 

North Dakota Monitor is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. The Monitor’s editorial decisions are made locally by our team of North Dakota journalists. The Monitor retains full editorial independence.