As you drive through rural North Carolina this summer, one of the most common crops you’ll see growing is soybeans. You might not think much about where those beans end up, but the soybeans grown across the state are destined for various places and various forms once they’re harvested. In fact, once they leave the farm, North Carolina soybeans begin a journey that connects farmers to livestock, grocery stores, fuel tanks and even global markets.
Soybeans are the most widely planted crop in North Carolina, covering about 1.6 million acres each year. They’re grown in all 100 counties, from the mountains to the coast, with especially high production in the Coastal Plain and parts of the southern Piedmont.
After soybeans are harvested, they typically head to a processing facility rather than directly to a grocery shelf.
“N.C. soybeans are processed into protein-rich meal and oil,” said Charles Hall, executive director of the N.C. Soybean Producers Association.
Most of that processing happens relatively close to home.
“The whole beans from farmers’ fields are processed for the most part at Cargill’s facility in Fayetteville (Cumberland County), at Perdue’s facilities in Cofield (Hertford County) or in Chesapeake, Virginia,” Hall said.
At these facilities, each soybean is essentially split into two main components:
• Soybean meal (about 80%)
• Soybean oil (about 20%)
From a single 60-pound bushel, that yields roughly 47 pounds of meal and 11 pounds of oil.
Feeding North Carolina’s livestock
The largest share of North Carolina soybeans ultimately goes right back into agriculture – specifically, feeding animals.
“The protein meal is included in compound feed rations for pigs, chickens – [both] broilers and layers, turkeys and beef and dairy cows,” Hall said.
After processing, the meal is sent to feed mills, where it’s blended with other nutrients before being delivered to farms.
The high-protein fiber that remains after soybean oil has been removed is toasted and processed into animal feed for pigs, poultry, cattle, fish, and pets. In North Carolina, poultry farms are the largest consumers of soy, accounting for roughly 2 million tons of soymeal annually.
ncsoy.org
“The meal then goes to a local feed mill where it’s combined with other ingredients and nutrients and then goes to the livestock facilities to be fed,” Hall explained.
That local connection is significant. North Carolina is home to a massive livestock sector, including millions of hogs and a poultry industry that raises hundreds of millions of birds each year.
“Our customers are the animals in our back yard – the eight to 10 million swine and up to one billion poultry birds in the state,” Hall said.
In other words, a large portion of the soybeans grown in North Carolina never leave the state. They’re converted into meat, eggs and dairy products that feed people across the country.
Beyond feed
While soybean meal makes up the majority of the crop’s use, the oil portion also plays a major role in everyday life. Soybean oil is commonly used for cooking and food production, showing up in products like salad dressings, baked goods and frying oils.
Beyond food, it’s also used to produce biodiesel, which offers a renewable alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Soy-based products can also be found in paints, cleaners, tires, plastics, candles, crayons, cosmetics and skincare products. Even firefighting foam and insulation can be made using soybean oil.
A global commodity
Although most North Carolina soybeans are used domestically, a portion travels much farther.
“About 10% to 12% of the whole beans produced in North Carolina are exported to foreign customers in ocean shipping containers,” Hall said.
Those exports typically move through the ports in Virginia, Wilmington and Charleston, S.C., to international markets.
A smaller share of North Carolina soybeans is also transported to Georgia, where it is processed and used in regional livestock production.
A little bean with broad reach
Soybeans may look simple in the field, but they’re one of the most versatile crops grown in North Carolina. They help feed livestock, supply ingredients for everyday foods, support renewable energy production and contribute to global trade. At the same time, they remain a cornerstone of family farms, which make up about 95% of agricultural operations in the state.
From a single field, soybeans can become animal feed, cooking oil, fuel or industrial products all within a matter of weeks. For most North Carolinians, that means soybeans are already part of daily life, whether they realize it or not.