This CAST Special Publication documents the ecological and economic implications of the various systems used in U.S. soybean production. Soybean production has changed in the United States since its first introduction in the mid-1880s. Initially, the crop was produced mainly for forage and received only minimal inputs. Today, soybeans have become a major source of protein in animal diets and vegetable oils for human consumption. Considering this dramatic change, CAST is providing a comprehensive literature review that evaluates U.S. soybean production systems currently in use with respect to their environmental and economic sustainability. Project Manager/Lead Author: Larry Heatherly, Agronomic Advisor, Seymour, Tennessee.

SP30, June 2009, 96 pp. Available free online and in print (fee for shipping/handling).

Publication Impact Report – November 2009