Tri-State Neighbor: South Dakota Farm Newspaper

Seed companies and food processors will be looking to expand production of healthier oils in the 2009 growing season.

Some of the healthier soybean oil is moving from low-linolenic soybeans to mid- and high-oleic acid soybean oils.

Greg Keeley, CEO of Asoyia in Iowa City, Iowa, says his company plans to triple production of its ultra-low linolenic soybeans for the 2009 growing season.

His company is paying a $2.75 per bushel premium for farmers to raise the non-GMO variety or $1 per bushel premium for a Roundup Ready variety. It will offer a transportation subsidy more than 50 miles from the crushing location.

Asoyia was started in southeast Iowa. Its processing is done in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Keeley says his company is trying to get some acres in northeast, north-central and south-central Iowa, northern Missouri and central Illinois.

They are working on setting up delivery points outside of their Cedar Rapids delivery point. One other delivery point is in Bloomington, Ill.

“Demand for the oil is strong,” he said.

His company is working with mid-oleic oils that can have a longer shelf life.

Keeley says his company will have a Roundup Ready Y series Pioneer soybean variety, 93Y50.

In addition, Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. is adding several low-linolenic soybean varieties under its new Y series for 2009 growing season.

One variety is a late-Group 2 for areas, such as eastern Iowa and northern growing areas, such as Ohio. The other variety is an early Group 3.

The company claims the new low-linolenic soybeans in the Y series line have shown yield advantages over previous low-linolenic products.

“The market for low-linolenic soybeans continues to expand, increasing contracting opportunities for growers, and Pioneer is meeting that demand by expanding its product offerings,” John Muenzenberger, Pioneer senior business manager of soybean output traits, said in a news release.

In addition to extending the lineup of low-lin soybean varieties, Pioneer is developing high-oleic soybean varieties, which will be commercially available in 2009, pending regulatory approval.

The high-oleic oil offers a healthier alternative for consumers and also can be used in a wide range of industrial applications including lubricants, coolants and hydraulic fluids.

Company officials expect the initial offerings to be made available in western Iowa in 2009 for 2010 planting.

Soybean farmers growing Pioneer low-linolenic soybeans again will be able to receive a premium for their crop at numerous locations across the heart of the Corn Belt.

Pioneer works with various processors, including Bunge, to offer low- lin premiums to farmers.

Low-linolenic soybean growers will earn a premium of 60 cents per bushel for on-farm storage of low-linolenic soybeans and a 55-cent premium per bushel for harvest delivery.

Monsanto is expecting more interest from food companies and processors for its Vistive low-linolenic soybean oil.

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