US Soybean Production by State: Ranking the Top 11

We review the top rankings of soybean production by state.  An overview of US crop production statistics is also available.

In 2021 Illinois produced 672.6 million bushels of soybeans, making it the number one state producer of soybeans in the United States.

Where are soybeans grown in the United States?

US production of soybeans occurs mostly int the midwestern states and is concentrated most in Illinois and Iowa. 
The graphic below shows the regions where soybean production is most concentrated. 

Where are soybeans grown in the United States

The regions in the US where soybeans are grown

What is the primary cause of year-to-year variations in soybean production?

The primary cause of year-to-year variation in soybean production from state-to-state is year-to-year variations in:

  1. The number of acres planted by producers to grow soybeans, and
  2. The weather conditions that occur during the soybean growing season.

CropProphet uses daily weather conditions to forecast the end-of-season USDA estimated yield and production.  

CropProphet provides weather-based corn yield (and soybean) production forecasts.  In other words, we help grain traders, grain merchandisers, and discretionary and systematic commodity traders manage weather risk.  A wide range of grain commodity traders seize grain market trading opportunities using CropProphet by knowing the differences between market perceptions of corn production and our forecast.  As the market perception corrects towards the CropProphet forecasts corn prices change. Our customers have an information advantage in the grain market.  

Discover the benefits of CropProphet now.

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Follow this link if you are interested in state corn yield per acre rankings

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Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2021

The top 11 soybeans-producing states (and their total production) of 2021 was:

Production Rankings: 2021
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 672.6
2 Iowa 621.9
3 Minnesota 356.3
4 Nebraska 350.9
5 Indiana 335.6
6 Missouri 276.9
7 Ohio 275.7
8 South Dakota 215.6
9 Kansas 189.6
10 North Dakota 181.6
11 Arkansas 153.5

State Soybean Production – 2021

The USDA NASS reported 29 2021 soybean-producing states. These states produced at least more than 4.4 billion bushels of soybeans. As can be seen in the chart above, while Illinois was the number one producer of soybean at 672 million bushels while Iowa was not far behind with 621 million bushels of soybeans. These two states produced almost 24% of the US soybean crop in 2021.

National soybean prices (i.e. soybean futures prices) each year are impacted not only by the market’s perception of the amount of national soybean production but frequently also by how much soybean a specific state produces. In addition, local cash crop basis prices are directly impacted by the market perceptions of the soybean production forecasts at the county level. This can have a direct impact on the profitability of the soybean producer. As a result, understanding not only soybean production but also forecasts of corn production can have important financial implications for all-grain market participants.

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Top 11 Rankings of State Soybean Production Over Time

The ranking of the top 11 states producing soybean seems to be relatively stable since 2016, we can look at the change in ranking over time. Unlike in a similar chart of the changes over time of state corn production rankings, we see the top 5 soybean producers alternate regularly. Undoubtedly this is due to weather conditions or changes in planted acres.

Ranking of State Soybean Production over Time
Ranking of State Soybean Production over Time

The ranking data in the graph above is also provided below but includes the total soybean production as well. You can view a history of state soybean yield for a few of the highly ranked states as well.

 

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Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2020

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2020 was:

Production Rankings: 2020
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 604.8
2 Iowa 494.0
3 Minnesota 359.2
4 Indiana 329.4
5 Nebraska 294.1
6 Missouri 290.5
7 Ohio 263.0
8 South Dakota 223.9
9 North Dakota 190.9
10 Kansas 190.3
11 Arkansas 139.0

State Soybean Production – 2020

Soybean Production by State - 2020 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2019

The top 11 soybean producing states (and their total production) of 2019 was:

Production Rankings: 2019
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 532.4
2 Iowa 501.6
3 Minnesota 297.9
4 Nebraska 283.1
5 Indiana 273.4
6 Missouri 230.5
7 Ohio 209.2
8 Kansas 186.3
9 North Dakota 170.1
10 South Dakota 146.2
11 Arkansas 127.9

State Soybean Production – 2019

Soybean Production by State - 2019 Rankings

2019 was an interesting year for soybean production forecasting because of early-season precipitation and its impact on the evolution of the yield forecast, which can be seen below.

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2018

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2018 was:

Production Rankings: 2018
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 666.8
2 Iowa 550.5
3 Minnesota 374.9
4 Indiana 342.7
5 Nebraska 324.2
6 Ohio 281.1
7 Missouri 257.2
8 South Dakota 251.1
9 North Dakota 239.4
10 Kansas 201.7
11 Arkansas 162.1

State Soybean Production – 2018

Soybean Production by State - 2018 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2017

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2017 was:

Production Rankings: 2017
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 611.9
2 Iowa 566.6
3 Minnesota 384.3
4 Nebraska 326.0
5 Indiana 320.8
6 Missouri 292.5
7 Ohio 252.0
8 North Dakota 243.2
9 South Dakota 241.2
10 Kansas 191.6
11 Arkansas 178.5

State Soybean Production – 2017

Soybean Production by State - 2017 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2016

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2016 was:

Production Rankings: 2016
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 593.0
2 Iowa 566.4
3 Minnesota 389.5
4 Indiana 323.7
5 Nebraska 314.1
6 Missouri 271.5
7 Ohio 263.8
8 South Dakota 255.9
9 North Dakota 248.6
10 Kansas 192.5
11 Arkansas 145.2

State Soybean Production – 2016

Soybean Production by State - 2016 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2015

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2015 was:

Production Rankings: 2015
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 553.7
2 Illinois 544.3
3 Minnesota 377.5
4 Nebraska 305.7
5 Indiana 275.0
6 Ohio 237.0
7 South Dakota 235.5
8 North Dakota 185.9
9 Missouri 181.0
10 Arkansas 155.3
11 Kansas 148.6

State Soybean Production – 2015

Soybean Production by State - 2015 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2014

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2014 was:

Production Rankings: 2014
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 547.1
2 Iowa 498.3
3 Indiana 301.9
4 Minnesota 301.7
5 Nebraska 287.8
6 Missouri 259.9
7 Ohio 246.2
8 South Dakota 229.9
9 North Dakota 202.5
10 Arkansas 158.4
11 Kansas 140.6

State Soybean Production – 2014

Soybean Production by State - 2014 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2013

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2013 was:

Production Rankings: 2013
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 474.0
2 Iowa 420.9
3 Minnesota 278.0
4 Indiana 267.3
5 Nebraska 255.2
6 Ohio 222.3
7 Missouri 202.0
8 South Dakota 185.5
9 North Dakota 141.2
10 Arkansas 140.9
11 Kansas 131.0

State Soybean Production – 2013

Soybean Production by State - 2013 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2012

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2012 was:

Production Rankings: 2012
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 419.0
2 Illinois 384.0
3 Minnesota 304.5
4 Indiana 225.3
5 Nebraska 207.1
6 Ohio 206.6
7 North Dakota 163.2
8 Missouri 158.1
9 South Dakota 144.0
10 Arkansas 137.0
11 Kansas 87.9

State Soybean Production – 2012

Soybean Production by State - 2012 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2011

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2011 was:

Production Rankings: 2011
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 475.3
2 Illinois 423.2
3 Minnesota 274.6
4 Nebraska 261.4
5 Indiana 240.7
6 Ohio 217.9
7 Missouri 190.2
8 South Dakota 150.6
9 Arkansas 126.3
10 North Dakota 114.8
11 Kansas 103.4

State Soybean Production – 2011

Soybean Production by State - 2011 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2010

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2010 was:

Production Rankings: 2010
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 496.2
2 Illinois 466.1
3 Minnesota 329.0
4 Nebraska 267.8
5 Indiana 258.5
6 Ohio 220.3
7 Missouri 210.4
8 South Dakota 157.3
9 Kansas 140.2
10 North Dakota 138.4
11 Arkansas 110.2

State Soybean Production – 2010

Soybean Production by State - 2010 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2009

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2009 was:

Production Rankings: 2009
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 486.0
2 Illinois 430.1
3 Minnesota 284.8
4 Indiana 266.6
5 Nebraska 259.4
6 Missouri 230.6
7 Ohio 222.0
8 South Dakota 176.0
9 Kansas 162.4
10 Arkansas 122.6
11 North Dakota 116.1

State Soybean Production – 2009

Soybean Production by State - 2009 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2008

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2008 was:

Production Rankings: 2008
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 449.7
2 Illinois 428.6
3 Minnesota 264.9
4 Indiana 244.3
5 Nebraska 226.0
6 Missouri 191.1
7 Ohio 161.3
8 South Dakota 138.0
9 Arkansas 123.5
10 Kansas 120.2
11 North Dakota 105.3

State Soybean Production – 2008

Soybean Production by State - 2008 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2007

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2007 was:

Production Rankings: 2007
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 448.8
2 Illinois 360.2
3 Minnesota 267.3
4 Indiana 220.3
5 Ohio 199.3
6 Nebraska 196.3
7 Missouri 175.1
8 South Dakota 136.1
9 North Dakota 108.6
10 Arkansas 101.5
11 Kansas 86.1

State Soybean Production – 2007

Soybean Production by State - 2007 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2006

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2006 was:

Production Rankings: 2006
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 510.0
2 Illinois 482.4
3 Minnesota 322.6
4 Indiana 284.0
5 Nebraska 250.5
6 Ohio 217.1
7 Missouri 194.2
8 South Dakota 130.9
9 North Dakota 121.9
10 Arkansas 107.4
11 Kansas 98.6

State Soybean Production – 2006

Soybean Production by State - 2006 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2005

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2005 was:

Production Rankings: 2005
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 525.0
2 Illinois 439.4
3 Minnesota 309.4
4 Indiana 263.6
5 Nebraska 235.3
6 Ohio 201.6
7 Missouri 181.7
8 South Dakota 134.8
9 North Dakota 105.8
10 Kansas 105.4
11 Arkansas 102.0

State Soybean Production – 2005

Soybean Production by State - 2005 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2004

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2004 was:

Production Rankings: 2004
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 497.4
2 Illinois 495.0
3 Indiana 284.3
4 Minnesota 232.7
5 Missouri 223.2
6 Nebraska 218.5
7 Ohio 207.7
8 South Dakota 140.1
9 Arkansas 122.8
10 Kansas 111.1
11 North Dakota 82.1

State Soybean Production – 2004

Soybean Production by State - 2004 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2003

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2003 was:

Production Rankings: 2003
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Illinois 379.6
2 Iowa 342.9
3 Minnesota 238.4
4 Indiana 204.1
5 Nebraska 182.2
6 Ohio 164.8
7 Missouri 146.0
8 South Dakota 115.5
9 Arkansas 111.3
10 North Dakota 88.4
11 Kansas 57.0

State Soybean Production – 2003

Soybean Production by State - 2003 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2002

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2002 was:

Production Rankings: 2002
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 499.2
2 Illinois 453.6
3 Minnesota 308.9
4 Indiana 239.5
5 Nebraska 176.3
6 Missouri 170.0
7 Ohio 151.0
8 South Dakota 126.8
9 Arkansas 96.5
10 North Dakota 86.8
11 Michigan 78.5

State Soybean Production – 2002

Soybean Production by State - 2002 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2001

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2001 was:

Production Rankings: 2001
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 480.5
2 Illinois 477.9
3 Indiana 273.9
4 Minnesota 266.4
5 Nebraska 222.9
6 Ohio 187.8
7 Missouri 186.2
8 South Dakota 143.0
9 Arkansas 91.2
10 Kansas 87.4
11 North Dakota 70.7

State Soybean Production – 2001

Soybean Production by State - 2001 Rankings

Soybean Production by State: Top 11 of 2000

The top 11 soybean-producing states (and their total production) of 2000 was:

Production Rankings: 2000
Rank State Production (M bu)
1 Iowa 464.6
2 Illinois 459.8
3 Minnesota 293.1
4 Indiana 252.1
5 Ohio 186.5
6 Missouri 175.0
7 Nebraska 173.8
8 South Dakota 152.9
9 Arkansas 80.3
10 Michigan 73.1
11 Wisconsin 60.0

State Soybean Production – 2000

Soybean Production by State - 2000 Rankings

CropProphet provides daily updated, weather-based forecasts of county, state, and soybean production. Request a trial of CropProphet today.

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