Soybean Yield Estimate Calculator

Average Pods per Plant: (Estimate the average number of pods on a typical plant)

Average Seeds per Pod: (Estimate the average number of seeds per pod, typically 2-4)

Plants per Acre: (Estimate the number of healthy plants per acre)

Seeds per Pound: (Estimate the number of individual seeds that make up one pound, accounts for seed size)

function calculateSoybeanYield() { var avgPodsPerPlant = parseFloat(document.getElementById('avgPodsPerPlant').value); var avgSeedsPerPod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('avgSeedsPerPod').value); var plantsPerAcre = parseFloat(document.getElementById('plantsPerAcre').value); var seedsPerPound = parseFloat(document.getElementById('seedsPerPound').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('soybeanYieldResult'); if (isNaN(avgPodsPerPlant) || isNaN(avgSeedsPerPod) || isNaN(plantsPerAcre) || isNaN(seedsPerPound) || avgPodsPerPlant <= 0 || avgSeedsPerPod <= 0 || plantsPerAcre <= 0 || seedsPerPound <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields."; resultDiv.style.color = '#dc3545'; resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#f8d7da'; resultDiv.style.borderColor = '#f5c6cb'; return; } // Standard constant for soybeans: 60 pounds per bushel var poundsPerBushel = 60; // Formula: (Pods per Plant * Seeds per Pod * Plants per Acre) / (Seeds per Pound * Pounds per Bushel) var estimatedYield = (avgPodsPerPlant * avgSeedsPerPod * plantsPerAcre) / (seedsPerPound * poundsPerBushel); resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Soybean Yield: " + estimatedYield.toFixed(2) + " bushels/acre"; resultDiv.style.color = '#28a745'; resultDiv.style.backgroundColor = '#e7f3e7'; resultDiv.style.borderColor = '#d4edda'; } // Calculate on page load with default values window.onload = calculateSoybeanYield;

Understanding Soybean Yield Estimation

Estimating soybean yield before harvest is a valuable practice for farmers, agronomists, and agricultural businesses. It provides crucial insights for harvest planning, marketing decisions, and evaluating the effectiveness of current management practices. While not a perfect prediction, a well-executed pre-harvest estimate can help anticipate potential challenges and opportunities.

How the Soybean Yield Estimate Calculator Works

This calculator uses a common formula based on key plant characteristics to project the potential yield in bushels per acre. The formula is:

Yield (bushels/acre) = (Average Pods per Plant × Average Seeds per Pod × Plants per Acre) ÷ (Seeds per Pound × 60)

Where '60' represents the standard weight of one bushel of soybeans in pounds.

Key Inputs Explained:

Average Pods per Plant: This is the average number of pods you observe on a typical, healthy soybean plant in your field. To get an accurate average, randomly select several plants across different areas of the field and count their pods.
Average Seeds per Pod: Soybeans typically have 2 to 4 seeds per pod. An average of 2.5 to 3.0 is common. You can determine this by opening a sample of pods from different plants and calculating the average number of seeds.
Plants per Acre: This refers to your stand count – the number of healthy, productive soybean plants per acre. This can be estimated by counting plants in a known length of row and extrapolating to an acre based on your row spacing. For example, for 30-inch rows, count plants in 17 feet 5 inches of row to represent 1/1000th of an acre.
Seeds per Pound: This factor accounts for seed size. Larger seeds mean fewer seeds per pound, while smaller seeds mean more seeds per pound. This value can vary significantly by variety and growing conditions. If you don't have a specific value for your variety, a common range is 2,500 to 3,000 seeds per pound.

Tips for Accurate Estimation:

Random Sampling: To minimize bias, collect data from multiple random locations within the field. Avoid areas with obvious issues or exceptionally good growth.
Representative Plants: Focus on plants that represent the overall health and development of the field, not just the largest or smallest.
Timing: Yield estimates are typically most accurate when taken during the R6 (full seed) to R7 (beginning maturity) growth stages, before significant leaf drop or pod shattering.
Consider Variability: Soybean fields often have significant variability. Take enough samples to capture this diversity.

Limitations:

This calculator provides an estimate based on current plant characteristics. Actual harvest yield can still be influenced by unforeseen factors such as late-season weather events (drought, excessive rain), disease outbreaks, insect pressure, harvest losses, and equipment efficiency. Use this tool as a guide, not a definitive forecast.