Quality of Canadian Soybean, oilseed-type 2020

Oil and protein content

The average protein content was 38.3% on dry basis (equivalent at 33.3% at 13% moisture; Table 1), which is similar to last year’s results (38.4% on dry basis or 33.4% at 13% moisture) but lower than the 5-year average of 39.1% (equivalent at 34.0% at 13% moisture). Samples from eastern Canada had a higher protein content (38.8%) than western Canada (37.6%), but lower than the Maritimes (39.4%; Table 3). For the top two grades combined, the protein content of individual producer samples ranged from 32.5% (or 28.3 at 13% moisture) to 43.3% (37.7% at 13% moisture). Figure 2 shows the protein content trend since 2006 between eastern and western Canada. Since 2006, western averages have been consistently lower and show higher yearly variability than eastern averages.

Figure 2: Seed protein content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

• Details

  Figure 2: Seed protein content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

  	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
  Western Canada	36.0	35.5	37.8	37.0	37.4	36.5	36.4	39.6	37.3	38.1	38.7	37.1	37.3	36.8	37.6
  Eastern Canada	40.6	40.6	41.0	40.5	41.0	39.1	40.1	40.5	40.5	40.1	40.6	39.6	39.4	39.3	38.3
  Canada	39.9	39.8	40.3	39.7	39.9	38.1	39.3	40.2	39.6	39.6	40.1	38.6	38.9	38.4	38.3

Figure 3 presents the protein content of fully defatted soybean meal. The protein content of the fully defatted soybean meal from western Canada is lower than the protein content of the samples from the east. This difference reflects the protein content difference between the two sets of samples.

Figure 3: Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

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  Figure 3: Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
  Western Canada	46.9	45.4	48.3	47.4	47.7	47.3	46.7	50.2	47.0	48.3	48.9	47.1	47.6	46.5	47.8
  Eastern Canada	51.5	52.0	52.3	51.1	52.1	49.8	51.2	51.2	51.2	51.1	52.1	49.9	50.8	49.9	49.8
  Canada	50.8	50.9	51.4	50.3	50.7	48.8	50.3	50.9	50.1	50.4	51.2	48.8	50.0	48.6	49.0

The average oil content was 21.8% dry basis (18.9% at 13% moisture) for soybean graded No. 1 and No. 2, which was higher than what was observed in 2019 at 21.1% (or 18.3% at 13% moisture) and the 5-year average of 21.5% (or 18.7% at 13% moisture) (Table 1). For the top two grades combined, the oil content of individual samples ranged from 17.2% (15.0% at 13% moisture) to 24.5% (21.3% at 13% moisture) on a dry basis. Figure 4 shows the oil content trend since 2006 for eastern, western and all of Canada.

Figure 4: Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

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  Figure 4: Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans, 2006 to 2020

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
  Western Canada	23.2	21.8	21.8	22.0	21.6	22.9	22.0	21.0	20.6	21.1	20.8	21.3	21.6	20.9	21.3
  Eastern Canada	21.1	21.9	21.6	20.7	21.2	21.4	21.8	21.0	21.0	21.6	22.0	20.7	22.4	21.2	22.0
  Canada	21.5	21.9	21.6	21.1	21.4	22.0	21.9	21.0	20.9	21.5	21.7	20.9	22.2	21.1	21.8

Typically, there is an inverse relationship between oil and protein content for Canadian soybeans (as it is for all oilseeds): the higher the oil content the lower the protein. This year, protein was similar to last year while oil content increased when compared to 2019 averages.

Environmental growing conditions are usually responsible for year-to-year variations, whereas genetics (varietal differences) are usually responsible for trends over several years. The combination of genetics and environmental growing conditions are responsible for the east-west differences. Currently, breeding is primarily looking at yield and other agronomic factors. Quality factors, such as oil or protein contents, are not taken into account when registering new soybean varieties in Canada.