The Soybean Production Economy

The soybean economy experienced balanced sumption, such as modified-protein corn and cereal growth in both total demand and total supply since crops, and synthetic amino acids and urea supplethe early 1940's, but in recent years encountered ments, suggest possible long-range problems in the excess production. Since the soybean economy is utilization area. Production increases in' crops that effectively interdependent with that of corn, cotton, compete for oil and meal markets appear likely. The and rice, programs for these commodities must be 1969 U.S. cotton program permitted an increase in tailored to current and potential conditions relating cotton acreage but poor yields reduced cottonseed to soybeans. Detailed analyses of sources of increased production 8 percent. Resources were freed for flax production, of associated inter-regional effects, and production by a reduction in the wheat crop under of production alternatives in the soybean area are the wheat program. Increased domestic production of needed to provide basic information for formulation other oilseed crops could also occur. Sunflower, for of new programs. My primary purpose is to discuss example, is currently being produced experimentally the need for expanded research on soybean producon farms in the Red River Valley area, Mississippi tion patterns. However, most of the emphasis, herein River Delta area, and in the Southeast. Estimates of is on developing a comprehensive information framethe 1968 sunflower acreage in the Delta ranged up to work as an initial step to accomplish the research 40,000 acres. task.