The target moisture to deliver soybeans to elevators is 13%. During harvest, soybeans can easily dry to 9% moisture. The result is less bushels delivered to the elevator.

How does selling soybeans at 9% moisture impact profitability? At 9% moisture, you are losing about 4.4% of yield. For example, a soybean field yielding 60 bushels per acre, you lose over 2.6 bushels of yield per acre.

You can use 4.4% and your personal soybean yields and calculate the impact of selling dry grain. Profit is lost because you are selling fewer bushels per acre based on weight. Then check the moisture dockage schedule at your elevator to determine the impact of high moisture soybeans.

Typically, it is better to take some dockage with soybeans over 13% moisture rather than sell soybeans at 9% moisture or less. In addition, with extremely dry soybeans, you have the risk of shatter loss.

For more information, contact Wayne Flanary, Field Specialist in Agronomy, at 816-279-1691, University of Missouri Extension.