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Soybeans could grow on more areas in Germany. Farmers in the Westphalian Münsterland prove that cultivation and marketing also work in the northern half.
Soybeans could grow on more land in Germany. Farmers in the Westphalian Münsterland region have proven that cultivation and marketing can also work in the northern half of the country. There is still potential for soybeans! Dare to grow more soybeans! These and similar calls for the bean are often heard far and wide. In 2024, the protein-rich legume grew nationwide on around 41,000 hectares, but almost three-quarters of this was concentrated in the southern states of Bavaria (22,400 hectares) and Baden-Württemberg (6,200 hectares). Even though the German cultivation area has roughly tripled in the past ten years, only about 3.5% of the soybeans needed in Germany actually come from domestic cultivation. Experts believe that Germany could produce around 2 million tons of soybeans annually, which would cover about 60% of the domestic demand. This volume is made possible by increasing warmth and breeding progress. Breeders have produced significantly more early soybean varieties for border locations in recent years, allowing cultivation even in more northern regions of Germany. Complete package with contract A map from the Thünen Institute suggests that soybean cultivation is suitable not only for the south of Germany but also for large parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and the neighboring northeastern states. Warm temperatures and new early varieties make soybean cultivation possible in large parts of northern Germany as well. This potential has also been tapped into for several years by Raiffeisen Warendorf eG in the Westphalian Münsterland region. At the site in Freckenhorst (Warendorf district), cultivation advisors Dirk Steltig and branch manager Conrad Strunk support farmers with a comprehensive package for soybean cultivation: It ranges from seed procurement and support for inoculation with nodulating bacteria to specific cultivation advice on sowing and plant protection to harvest and marketing: "We offer cultivation contracts with clear conditions early in the year and support from variety selection to collection and acceptance," explains Steltig. Farmers cultivated around 700 hectares of contract soybeans last year and marketed them through the cooperative. Regional protein crop The beans are predominantly grown for use as food, harvested, and marketed as a regional, GMO-free plant protein raw material to a buyer. The quality requirements for the harvested food soybeans are quite high: maximum 13% moisture, maximum 1.5% infestation including broken grains are required, and the beans must be free from foreign matter, pests, and fungi. The food product is centrally collected at the Freckenhorst site, which is certified as a GMO-free storage facility. In addition, soybean cultivation is generally demanding: Soybeans gather atmospheric nitrogen through nodulating bacteria, which must be applied to the seed before sowing. The inoculation must be done with special equipment as close to sowing as possible in the presence of the farmer (keyword: seed law). For a good start, the bean needs a loose and warm seedbed, sowing starts in the north in May. Spring drought and pigeons can then disrupt the early development of the plants. Relatively late harvest in September, or even partly in October in humid weather. Drying costs can then be relatively high because the drying time is very long at low temperatures. Revenues are in line Cultivation advisor Steltig assesses the challenges: "These should not deter you. The agronomic aspects are manageable. The additional requirements for the food product are offset by higher revenues. In general, the payment price is based on the contract prices of German oil mills. Most recently, southern processors quoted around 420 €/t (19% oil, 34% protein) for GMO-free soybeans for the delivery period September/October 2025. For the food product and the higher effort, there is a surcharge of 10 to 15 €/t on the base price. Goal: 1,000 hectares of soybeans Do the beans also pay off in the north? Steltig sees soybeans like this: "In terms of yield, we also achieve over 3 t/ha in the north. In terms of revenue, soybeans can certainly compete with other crops." You can find more information in the top agricultural article: "Summer crops: How do they pay off in 2025" in issue 4/2025 (from page 44). The cultivation advisor emphasizes that the value of the legume's previous crop and the diversification of the crop rotation must also be included in the calculation. Then soybeans can also be a good alternative to maize in the north. Steltig would like to further expand soybean cultivation in the suitable regions in the northern half of Germany. "We would like to reach the 1,000 hectare mark to have a significant amount of beans represented in the market," he explains. He also sees potential for cultivation as a feed bean. This spring, he has not quite reached the goal yet and is drumming up support: "Those who decide quickly can still join. Sowing has just begun, and there is seed available." Conclusion Growing soybeans in Germany makes sense for several reasons: New, early varieties are also suitable for border locations. Regional, GMO-free soy is in demand as food. When considering the value of the previous crop and the collected nitrogen fertilizer, cultivation in border locations can be profitable.
