Source: AgAnswers, an Ohio State Extension and Purdue Extension Partnership

Quality, not just quantity, determines a soybean crop's worth. A new program sponsored by Purdue University and the Indiana Soybean Board gives farmers an inside look at the grain they're harvesting this fall.

For a three-pound bag of their soybean crop and the cost of postage, the Purdue Grain Quality Laboratory will analyze the grain for test weight, moisture, fiber content, protein and oil, said Dirk Maier, Purdue Extension grain quality specialist.

Soybean growers will receive a lab report by regular mail, e-mail or fax. They'll then be able to compare their samples with those from across the state on Purdue's Post Harvest Grain Quality and Stored Product Protection Program Web page -- http://www.grainquality.org .

The information should be helpful in marketing the 2004 crop and in selecting soybean varieties for 2005, Maier said.

"This initiative is funded by the Indiana Soybean Board and provides crop producers an opportunity to submit soybean samples and have them analyzed, particularly for protein and oil content," Maier said. "From the information they receive back from the grain quality lab, farmers can make better decisions of choosing soybeans that are not only higher yielding, but also have higher oil and protein content -- traits that are desirable to processors.

"This is a voluntary program. We'll be accepting samples all winter and are encouraging producers to take advantage of this service."

While farmers are the target group for the program, known as the Indiana Soybean End-Use Quality Traits Initiative, those with test plots, small seed companies and county Extension educators also are welcome to participate.

Those submitting grain samples are urged to provide as much additional information about their crop as possible, including variety, planting and harvesting dates, fertilizer and herbicide applications, field location, yield average, specific variety traits -- Roundup Ready or CystX, for example -- soil type and row width.

The more information included with soybean samples, the more valuable the Internet resource will be, Maier said. While a host of data will appear on the Post Harvest Grain Quality Web page, the identities of participants will remain anonymous, he said.

Individual samples will be assigned an ID number, Maier said.

"On our Web site we'll try to estimate the processing value of samples in terms of soybean meal and soy oil content, the amino acid profile and the quality of the oil itself," he said. "We'll also list the seed varieties themselves, so that producers can compare the varieties. The one thing we will not do is identify a producer. Those visiting the site can compare their samples against others but there will be no revealing of who grew what, when and where."

A letter detailing the grain analysis program and outlining sample submission guidelines has been sent to producers. Growers who have not received a letter can find submission information by logging onto http://www.grainquality.org , clicking on "Extension Projects" and then "Grain Composition Analysis Service."

The Purdue Grain Quality Laboratory is housed in the School of Agriculture's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The lab is equipped with a near infrared transmittance grain analyzer for determining composition values of soybeans, soybean meal and corn.