Soybean Biofuels Drive Demand and Expand Livestock Feed Supply

By Scout Nelson

Soybeans are an important crop with many uses. One of the fastest-growing uses today is in biofuels. According to Heather Buechter from Clean Fuels Alliance America, soybean oil is now a major source of fuel for the biodiesel and transportation sectors, alongside its traditional use in livestock feed.

Farmers benefit from this shift. As more industries move toward clean energy, the demand for soybean oil grows. This helps support higher soybean prices and encourages more investment in soybean crushing facilities, which process soybeans into oil and meal. For example, a new crushing plant is being built near Mitchell, South Dakota, to meet the rising need.

When soybeans are crushed for oil, soybean meal is also produced. This meal is a key ingredient in livestock feed, meaning that more biofuel production also helps the animal agriculture industry. It’s a win-win situation, biofuels reduce pollution, and livestock farms get more feed.

Buechter says the idea of using soy-based biofuels is being accepted across the transportation industry. Many companies are interested in using cleaner fuel options to help reduce carbon emissions. This is good news for both the environment and agriculture.

In recent years, billions of dollars have gone into expanding soybean crush capacity across the country. As a result, more soybean oil is being used for fuel, and more meal is available for animals, creating a strong and growing market for soybean growers.

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