Quality of Canadian Soybean, oilseed-type 2020
Introduction
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There are two major types of soybeans grown in Canada: those commonly referred to as oilseed-type soybeans (“crush” or non-food grade) and food-grade soybeans (used for tofu and other soy products). This report deals with the oilseed-type soybean samples used for the feed or crushing industry. Oilseed-type soybeans are grown to produce oil and high-protein meal. Soybean oil is used in salad oil, shortening and margarine products, while the defatted soybean meal is a protein supplement in livestock rations.
Canadian soybean production area has expanded in recent years to include crop areas from the Maritimes to the Prairie provinces (Figure 1).
This harvest quality report is based on 506 samples of oilseed-type soybeans (also described as crush-type soybeans), which is more than what was received in 2019 (386). Samples were from Saskatchewan (14), Manitoba (206), Ontario (229), Quebec (36), New Brunswick (15) and Prince Edward Island (6). Of the submitted samples, 18.4% were graded as No. 1 (24.1% in 2019), 73.3% as No. 2 (72.3% in 2019), 5.1% as No. 3 (2.1% in 2019), 1.6% as No. 4 (1.0% in 2019), 1.2% as No. 5 (0.0% in 2019) and 0.4% as Sample (0.5% in 2019).
Quality data (oil, protein, free fatty acids, chlorophyll and fatty acid composition) are based on the means of Soybean, No. 1 and No. 2 Canada grades combined for all oilseed-type samples received from western Canada (Manitoba and Saskatchewan), eastern Canada (Ontario and Quebec) and the Maritimes (New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). Table 1 compares this year’s data to last year and to the 5-year average. The oil and protein content is provided on a dry matter basis and on a 13% moisture basis. Quality results for all combined grades for each province are in Tables 3 and 4.
| 2020 | 2019 | 2015-19 to Mean | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Soybean, No. 1 and No. 2 Canada samples | 464 | 372 | 337 |
| Quality parameters | |||
| Oil content (%, dry basis) | 21.8 | 21.1 | 21.5 |
| Oil content (%, 13% moisture) | 18.9 | 18.4 | 18.7 |
| Protein contentFootnote1 (%, dry basis) | 38.3 | 38.4 | 39.1 |
| Protein content (%, 13% moisture) | 33.3 | 33.4 | 34.0 |
| Defatted meal protein of the meal (%, 13% moisture) | 42.6 | 42.3 | 43.3 |
| Chlorophyll content (mg/kg in seed) | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Free fatty acidsFootnote2 (%) | 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.13 |
| Oleic acid (% in oil) | 20.3 | 18.8 | 21.6 |
| Linoleic acid (% in oil) | 54.9 | 55.5 | 53.9 |
| Linolenic acid (% in oil) | 8.8 | 9.9 | 8.9 |
| Total saturated fatty acidsFootnote3 (% in oil) | 15.2 | 15.0 | 15.3 |
| Iodine value (units) | 135.8 | 138.5 | 135.2 |
Figure 1: Soybean production areas in Canada
Summary
In 2020, the average oil content for Soybean, No. 1 and No. 2 grades combined was 21.8% on a dry matter basis (Tables 1 and 3). This was higher than last year’s average of 21.1% (Table 1) and the 5-year average (2015 to 2019) of 21.5%. The average protein content for Soybean, No. 1 and No. 2 grades were 38.3%, which was similar to last year’s average of 38.4%, but lower than the 5-year average of 39.1%. The oil and protein content averages for No. 1 and No. 2 grades combined varied between the western, eastern and Maritime provinces. Manitoba and Saskatchewan had an oil content of 21.3% and a protein content of 37.6%, whereas Ontario and Quebec had an oil content of 22.1% and a protein content of 38.8%. However, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had an oil content and protein content of 20.8% and 39.4%, respectively.
Acknowledgments
The Grain Research Laboratory acknowledges the cooperation of the soybean producers, grain handling facilities and oilseed crushing plants in eastern and western Canada for supplying the samples of newly harvested soybeans. We also acknowledge the work of the grain inspectors of the Canadian Grain Commission in grading samples and the Oilseed staff for their technical assistance.