New Study Finds U.S. Soybean Industry Has $115 Billion Impact on the American Economy

Mar 25, 2020

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), a trade association representing owners/operators of oilseed crush facilities, is pleased to announce the availability of a new study, The Economic Impact of the U.S. Soybeans & End Products on the U.S. Economy, that examines the value of the American soybean industry. NOPA partnered with the United Soybean Board (USB) in commissioning LMC International Ltd, an independent economic consulting firm that specializes in global agricultural commodity and agribusiness sectors, to develop the study.

This 31-page study analyzes the soybean value chain’s impact to the U.S. economy, based on data from crop years 2014/15 to 2016/17. As highlighted in the report summary, during this period:

The total economic impact on the U.S. economy from the soybean sector averaged $115.8 billion.
The soybean sector supported an average of 357,000 people, comprising 280,000 paid, full-time equivalent jobs as well as an additional 78,000 family members, beyond growers themselves, who support and are supported by soybean farming operations.
The total wage impact of the sector averaged $11.6 billion.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.