AgFacts Day#5: History of Soybeans
Soybeans are legume grown by U.S. Farmers. Presently, the soybean is used in variety ways from livestock feed to tofu to oil to plastic
- As early as 5,000 years ago, farmers in China grew soybeans.
- In 1804, a Yankee clipper ship brought soybeans to the U.S. When leaving China, sailors loaded the ship with soybeans as an inexpensive ballast. When they arrived in the U.S. they dumped the soybeans to make room for cargo.
- In 1829, U.S. farmers first grew soybeans. They raised a variety for soy sauce.
- During the Civil War, soybeans were used in place of coffee because real coffee was scarce.
- George Washington Carver began studying the soybean. His discoveries changed the way people thought about the soybean; no longer was it just a forage crop. Now its beans provided valuable protein and oil.
- In 1929 U.S. Farmers grew 9 million soybeans, in 1940 78 million, and today 2 billion
