The Search For Soybean

[richlao]

I have exausted all options in my search for a soybean seed in Thailand that meets the standards of Japanese importers. CM 60 and KK 35 have been checked by the Japanese, they said they would be good for animal feed! They also said that the best soybean for human consumption comes from N.W China and the U.S where it is colder. Does anyone know of any high quality local seed or perhaps seed from another country on the same latitude? Brazil maybe? Suggestions are more than welcome.

Regards

R

[Maizefarmer]

There is no commercial growing of soya in Thailand - not only is it too warm, but it is too humid. The soya grown in Brazil nowadays is probably the one type that would be successfull here - the problem: its a GM variety - and Thailand has not as yet enacted legislation to permitt commercial GM crop growing.

[Khonwan]

There is no commercial growing of soya in Thailand - not only is it too warm, but it is too humid. The soya grown in Brazil nowadays is probably the one type that would be successfull here - the problem: its a GM variety - and Thailand has not as yet enacted legislation to permitt commercial GM crop growing.

There's at least one farmer in my village who has grown commercial soya for most of the past 12 years I've been in the village. Used to be quite a few folks doing so. I haven't seen anyone doing so this year though.

Rgds

Khonwan

[soidog2]

I have exausted all options in my search for a soybean seed in Thailand that meets the standards of Japanese importers. CM 60 and KK 35 have been checked by the Japanese, they said they would be good for animal feed! They also said that the best soybean for human consumption comes from N.W China and the U.S where it is colder. Does anyone know of any high quality local seed or perhaps seed from another country on the same latitude? Brazil maybe? Suggestions are more than welcome.

Regards

R

I can't help you find seeds, but I can tell you, I've grown very successfully "enadame" (human consumption) from seeds obtained in the US.

Over a year now I still have some frozen in bags.

In the end I got tired of it , did not keep seeds anymore !

Good yeld, tolerate humidity.

Good luck

[Maizefarmer]

"Commercial" definition (?) - if it is certain farmers growing the stuff every year - yes, I must know of a dozen farmers who grow it every year. Around Suhkothai it's a big crop at least a couple thousand rai is planted every year, and around Chang Mai there must be another 2000 - 4000 rai grown each year - all yielding something like 150kg - 200kg per rai.

If one wishes to call this a "commerical" crop - then fair enough.

On an diffirent note - as of mid last year soyabean producution in Thailand has halved - a result of the disparity in domestic versus export price (some Baht10 per litre) and the government has refused growers requests to close the gap - so they have simply stopped growing.

Thai retail price - around Baht 22 per litre. In China and elswhere in Asia its generaly above Baht 60 per litre equivilant. The result of Thai Gov price controlling! I lot of the folk growing Soyabean last year will not be growing this year or next.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Maizefarmer

[soidog2]

]I

This is what I was talking about, definitely growable, commercial crop ? as “MF” said I doubt it

[richlao]

Thanks for the input.

Well it appears soybean seed is out there. I would assume the Thai samples I sent eariler to Japan were rejected due to the high Japanese standard for human comsumption. The Thai varieties are fine for food, oil and soymeal. May be I will just stick to more local markets. However, with the cost of production so much cheaper in China this may not be an option either. Although, production costs here in Laos, I suspect, are lower than Thailand. That would explain the large number of Thai agro. companies investing here. The other benefit is to get soybean into a maize rotation before the soil fertility is lost. The Vientnamese have been supporting Lao farmers to plant corn on thier swidden field but yields will drop. Soybean could counter this.

off to Brazil!!!!

thanks

richlao

[SAP]

Thanks for the input.

Well it appears soybean seed is out there. I would assume the Thai samples I sent eariler to Japan were rejected due to the high Japanese standard for human comsumption. The Thai varieties are fine for food, oil and soymeal. May be I will just stick to more local markets. However, with the cost of production so much cheaper in China this may not be an option either. Although, production costs here in Laos, I suspect, are lower than Thailand. That would explain the large number of Thai agro. companies investing here. The other benefit is to get soybean into a maize rotation before the soil fertility is lost. The Vientnamese have been supporting Lao farmers to plant corn on thier swidden field but yields will drop. Soybean could counter this.

off to Brazil!!!!

thanks

richlao

Northern Queensland has a very similar season to Thailand/Laos......I just googled Soyabeans Queensland Japan and found this website about a govt run plant breeding program. http://www.csiro.au/files/files/p2id.pdf

I don't know your Nationality, but as long as you can understand the local outback dialect and can speak understandable English, I would recommend ringing CSIRO and speak to the breeder (the breeders name comes up when you google the above). And quiz him about what you are doing.............I find these types of guys like plant breeders, they are the type of people that are overly fascinated with their jobs, but in turn are willing to pass any information on that they can.

Cheers SAP

[Maizefarmer]

Thanks for the input.

Well it appears soybean seed is out there. I would assume the Thai samples I sent eariler to Japan were rejected due to the high Japanese standard for human comsumption. The Thai varieties are fine for food, oil and soymeal. May be I will just stick to more local markets. However, with the cost of production so much cheaper in China this may not be an option either. Although, production costs here in Laos, I suspect, are lower than Thailand. That would explain the large number of Thai agro. companies investing here. The other benefit is to get soybean into a maize rotation before the soil fertility is lost. The Vientnamese have been supporting Lao farmers to plant corn on thier swidden field but yields will drop. Soybean could counter this.

off to Brazil!!!!

thanks

richlao

The reason why Thai agro companies are investing in soya outside of Thailand is down to one reason only: price control - in Thailand the price is Gov controlled at around Baht 22. Compare that with what you get for in Laos, Vietnam, China, Cambodia - where there is no domestic price control and prices per litre/kg are Baht 40 - 60plus! Production costs are much the same across most Asian countries.

Interesting: you sent "Thai samples" to Japan, only to have them rejected. Just what did you send - cake, plant sample, oil or paste?

Edited August 14, 2008 by Maizefarmer

[joeuk1]

I know nothing about crops grown in Thailand the only thing i see grown by locals is Rice anbd Sugar Cane .

Any of these grown Maize- Maple peas -Wheat -Barley -Red Dari -White dari- Safflower- Tares -Linseed -Hempseed -Black rapeseed Mung beans- Buckwheat -Groats .

Thanx Jb

[Maizefarmer]

Of those you list, the only one grown on significant scale is Maize - its a major Thai crop.

Rape seed (almost exclsuively for the local cosmetic industry) andMung Beans are grown on small scale, and even smaller quantities of Wheat are grown, but as for the rest .......... good question.