Low profitability of soybean cultivation, farmers are not very motivated to grow soybeans

The third day of the survey, the sun was shining brightly. The survey team set off from Fujin, passed through Tongjiang, and finally arrived at Jiamusi. By interviewing local traders and farmers, we obtained first-hand information. In addition, the survey team members went deep into the fields and conducted an on-site survey of corn seedling conditions.

⟦NL> Soybean trade is mainly food-grade soybeans

The first stop of the third day's survey was the Fujin Industrial Park in Xingda Village, Dayushu Town, Fujin City. The survey team interviewed a soybean trader at the Fujin City Industrial Park, with a trade volume of about 10,000 tons, mainly food-grade soybeans, shipped to Shenyang and Changchun, with freight dropping from 180 yuan/ton last year to 120 yuan/ton. For soybean screening, it is mainly divided into three categories, including large and medium grains for soy milk, and small grains for tofu, yuba and soy sauce, with price differences of 0.10 yuan/jin successively. The soybean varieties grown by farmers include Kenjian 23 and Suinong 26. Most farmers sell after the New Year, and currently only 10% remains in their hands, with a price of about 1.8 yuan/jin, lower than 2.1 yuan/jin in the same period last year. In addition, regarding planting area, last year 20% was planted with soybeans, and this year it may be only about 10%.

Farmers have poor motivation to grow soybeans

Subsequently, the survey team conducted an interview with the person in charge of Heilongjiang Longze Jingu Collection and Storage Co., Ltd. Due to poor trade returns, this grain station did not engage in grain trade this year, and mainly collected and stored grain on behalf of Sinograin and charged related fees. At present, the factory's state reserve grain has reached 70,000 tons (including rice). Manager Liu of the grain station pointed out that this area is mainly planted with corn, and very little soybeans were planted last year. Because Sinograin has relatively high requirements for corn quality, in 2013 local corn was difficult to sell due to mildew. But in 2014, corn quality was relatively high, and the situation has improved greatly. On April 28 this year, the soybean direct subsidy target price announced by the National Development and Reform Commission was 4,800 yuan/ton, flat with last year, which greatly hit farmers' motivation to grow soybeans. At the same time, because last year's corn harvest led to this year's land rent rising from about 4,500 yuan/ha to more than 5,500 yuan/ha, plus soybeans grown in Russia have low costs and are imported into China at prices far lower than domestic soybeans, forming a certain impact on domestic soybeans. With the continued sluggish profitability of soybean cultivation, it is expected that this year's planting will continue to be mainly corn.

Soybean planting costs have increased somewhat, and farmer subsidies urgently need to be implemented

Soybean planting cost survey (unit: yuan/ha)

Region Year Land rent Sowing Fertilizer Seed Pesticide spraying Harvesting fee Total cost

Santun, Sancun Town, Tongjiang City 2014 3800 200 1000 500 200 400 6100

After that, the survey team came to the fields of Santun, Sancun Town and interviewed farmers. Through investigation, it was found that in 2014 the land rent in this area was 3,800 yuan/ha. Adding the costs of seed, fertilizer, pesticides, sowing and harvesting, the total cost of soybean planting was 6,100 yuan/ha. Because 2014 saw an overall bumper harvest of soybeans and relatively high yields, in 2015 land rent rose by 1,200 to 5,000 yuan/ha. With all other costs remaining unchanged, the soybean planting cost in 2015 reached 7,300 yuan/ha. It should be pointed out that during the interviews, both traders and farmers mentioned the issue of implementing farmer subsidies. First is the insufficient subsidy intensity. Judging from the target of 4,800 yuan/ton, farmers' soybean planting profitability is still relatively low. Second is the issue of publicity and implementation of subsidies, and there is a problem of inadequate publicity. In some places, farmers even said they did not know there was such a thing as subsidies. Furthermore, some farmers worry that there is insufficient enforcement of subsidies and that they cannot receive the portion they deserve.

Corn emergence is relatively good

Finally, in the evening, at Youyi Farm the survey team once again measured corn emergence. Youyi Farm adopts wide-ridge double-row sowing. The corn seedlings are currently at the 4-leaf growth stage. Overall soil moisture is relatively good, and the emergence rate is relatively high.

Emergence status survey statistics

Region Date Variety Ridge spacing (cm) Seedling spacing (cm) Actual number of seedlings (per 5 m of ridge) Seedling height (cm)

Heting Village, Youyi Farm 2015-05-20 Corn 125 19 27 8

2015-05-20 Corn 128 18 28 7.5

2015-05-20 Corn 128 19 26 7