There is one crop that impacts our lives daily. Do you know which crop it is? The soybean! Soybeans are used in nearly everything – food, cleaning products, hair care products, and much more. This bean impacts so much of our lives. As you sip on some soy milk, check out these facts about the soybean.
- This crop is a part of the legume family.
- Also known as the soya bean, it is native to East China.
- Soybeans were first domesticated in China around 7000 BC.
- The legume was first introduced to the United States in 1804.
- Soybeans were first grown in the United States as cattle feed.
- The United States produces 55% of the world’s soybeans.
- The crop is mainly grown in midwestern states.
- Brazil and Argentina are also major soybean producers.
- While the legume and grow in most soils, it does best in warm, fertile, well-drained, sandy loam.
- Soybeans have a variety of uses. They are used in ink, plastics, textiles, candles, cleaning products, and much more.
- Soybean oil is the second most important vegetable oil. The first is palm oil.
- In 1935, Henry Ford’s engineers developed a plastic that used soybeans. This plastic was used for the frames of his cars.
- April is National Soy Foods Month.
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Written by Abigail Tomalewski, Marketing Assistant
Enjoy these fun facts about soybeans!
