Content Protecting Stored Soybean Quality and Preserving Profits During the coldest part of the winter right now, may not be necessary to check on stored soybeans for insect and mold issues, but as soon as temperatures start to warm up, those inspections should be done on a regular schedule. Maintaining quality is extremely important in protectingyour yield, so when farmers are ready to sell, they carn get the most for their soybeans closely to ensure mold is not degrading their value even more Also, since the nature of soybeans is to continue soaking up moisture, farmers need to keep an eye on their storage facilities t reduce any snow melt or run-off water fro impacting their location. Proper aeration in addition to reducing any added moisture temperatures increase are necessary for soybeans to maintain a moisture level conducive to the longer storage requirement many farmers will need while waiting for DID YOU KNOW? The allowable storage time for soybeans is at 13 percent moisture and when held at 7o degrees gives the soybeans about zo days before they sliet te degrade At 11 percent moisture and the same temperature, that jumps to 200 days giving soybean growers a longer storage time with higher quality market conditions to improve Additionally, due to the large number of ag producers who utilized grain bags for storing soybeans this Hellevang suggests those beans be put into bins for spring and summer storage. This do that every two weeks, except through the "Beans need to be below coldest part of the winter. moisture if they're going to be stored for wth keeping up with inspection of your crop and safeguarding your storage facilities percent er along with tariffs and historically wide basis Hellevang says." With soybean prices and sales still low the e summer to prevent mold growth,from taking on moisture, will ensure further prevent mold "The allowable storage time at 13 percent moisture, at 7o degrees, is about 70 days before the beans start to degrade. At moisture, that jumps to 200 days. that stored grain means that we have to there, xrs such as Hellevang caution Hallevang also recommends cooling the have a degree of skill that we use as we that soybeans are tricky to store compared grain to 20 to 4o degrees for winter storage monitor the temperature, moisture, looking to other grains, especially as we approach Quality is affected by both temperature and moisture, so it's important to monitor them soybean profits aren't lost. levels, there is little end in sight for soybean producers who have stored last seasons crop. According to Ken Hellevang, an NDSU Given the large amount of soybeans under Extension Agricultural Engineer, "To manage storage and the continued need to keep tem 1 percent n North Dakota Soybean Council Our World Is Growing for insects or mold. I recommend that we spring and summer.