ABSTRACT
Although soybean production in the United States has increased over much of the 20th century (Kogan and Turnipseed 1987, Turnipseed and Kogan 1976), it has increased most rapidly since approximately 1960, particularly in the southern states (Newsom et al. 1980, Turnipseed and Kogan 1976). For example, in 12 midwestern states where soybean has been produced historically, soybean acreage increased from an average of 14,434,000 acres (5,841,000 ha) between 1950 and 1959 to 30,524,000 acres (12,353,000 ha) in 1976 (Newsom et al. 1980). During the same period, even more dramatically, production increased in 11 southern states from an average of 3,245,000 acres (1,313,000 ha) during 1950 to 1959 to 17,670,000 acres (7,151,000 ha) in 1976. Continued expansion of soybean acreage must occur primarily in the South because of the availability of agricultural land in this area (Newsom 1980). The reasons for the increased demand for soybean are discussed briefly by Smith (1994).
