FARMERS IN STATE FIND GROWING INDUSTRIAL MARKET FOR SOYBEANS

Area farmers now have an industrial market for their soybeans.

"There are a number of industrial uses for soybeans, including SoyDiesel," said Dale Ludwig, executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.

Currently, Missouri's livestock industry is the largest market for soybeans, Ludwig said. The soy meal is used as a protein source in the feed, but when the soybeans are processed, soy oil is also a byproduct, he said.

"There is more of a demand for the meal than the oil," he said. "But with this as an alternative motor fuel, it would use up what tends to be in excess from processing."

SoyDiesel is a blend of soy oil and diesel fuel, Ludwig said. "Ordinarily, it's blended in a 20 percent soy oil and 80 percent diesel ratio, which is commercially usable," he said.

SoyDiesel burns much cleaner than regular diesel and there is less smoke with carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide fumes, Ludwig said.

"By blending at 20 percent, it also meets the 1990 Clean Air Act requirements, which are supposed to be implemented by 1995," Ludwig said.

The first market for SoyDiesel will be large metropolitan areas with mass transportation, Ludwig said. These areas tend to have air quality problems targeted by the Clean Air Act, he said.

In 1995, pure diesel no longer can be burned by mass transit systems, Ludwig said. "They will have to use another type of fuel, and the only other option is compressed natural gas," he said. "But in order for it to be used, the vehicles will need new engines and the cost of fuel will still be higher than the SoyDiesel."

Cape Girardeau should not be affected by the Clean Air Act requirements that have to be met in 1995, Ludwig said. "Cape Girardeau does not have an air quality problem at this time," he said.

With the use of SoyDiesel in the metropolitan areas, there will be a 10 percent increase in the price of soybeans per bushel, Ludwig said.

Ludwig said soybeans are the most logical alternative fuel because of their price and availability.

Other uses of soybeans include Environ, formerly known as Newstone, which is a building material that is made out of newspapers and soybean flour, Ludwig said.

"When it is finished it is very durable, and it's four times harder than oak," he said. "It can also have a lacquer finish put on, so it looks like polished marble or granite. It can then be used for flooring, desk tops or counter tops."

In addition, biodegradable plastics and foam can be made from soybeans, he said. "The neat thing is that we're replacing some bad stuff with biodegradable things that won't hurt the environment," Ludwig said.

These new uses give soybean producers hope, Ludwig said. "There is not one cure-all, but by having a number of new uses we can truly make a difference in improving the profitability for Missouri soybean producers," he said.