Quality of Canadian oilseed-type soybeans 2021

Introduction

There are two major types of soybeans grown in Canada:

• those commonly referred to as oilseed-type soybeans (“crush” or non-food grade)
• food-grade soybeans (used for tofu and other soy products)

This report deals with the oilseed-type soybean samples, which are used in the crushing industry and in animal feed production. Oilseed-type soybeans are grown to produce oil and high-protein meal. Soybean oil is used in oil-based salad dressing, shortening and margarine products. The defatted soybean meal, which is protein rich, is used to supplement livestock rations.

The Canadian soybean production area has expanded in recent years and crops are now grown from the Maritimes to the Prairie provinces (Figure 1).

At the end of the 2021 harvest, 333 samples of oilseed-type soybeans had been received by the Harvest Sample Program, much less than in 2020 (506 samples). The 2021 samples originated from Saskatchewan (8), Manitoba (123), Ontario (172), Quebec (23), and the Maritimes (7). Of the submitted samples, 21.3% were graded Soybeans, No. 1 Canada, whereas 77.5% were graded Soybeans, No. 2 Canada, and 1.2% of the samples were graded Soybeans, No. 3 Canada or lower.

Quality data (oil, protein, free fatty acids, chlorophyll and fatty acid composition) for oilseed-type soybeans are based on the means of the combined Soybeans, No. 1 Canada and Soybeans, No. 2 Canada grades. This includes all 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 2021 data to 2020 data, as well as to the 5-year average. Oil and protein content are provided on a dry basis and on a 13% moisture basis. Quality results according to province for Soybeans, No. 1 Canada and Soybeans, No. 2 Canada grades combined are presented in Tables 3 and 4.

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