The soy bean plants are a summer growing species relying on warm (18-30 degrees centigrade) moist conditions for optimum growth and bean production. The seeds are planted following rains or pre-irrigation in late November (in Southern and Northern NSW and in QLD through to the end of December). The seeds are sown with a precision seeder on raised beds with the rows 30cm apart, allowing for inter-row cultivation for weed control and watering. Plants germinate within a few days, thriving in the warm moist conditions. During the early vegetative growth stage there is constant activity within the fields with tractors cultivating between the rows to control weeds, spreading compost or folia nutrients and irrigating every 7 to 10 days.
Soy bean plants begin flowering 55 days following emergence from the soil. Flowering determines the farmers yield and is the most critical time in the plants lifecycle for farmers as any moisture stress or insect attack will dramatically reduce yields. When plants reach maturity, their leaves turn from a lush dark green to a yellow brown colour and drop off. This is the time when harvesting takes place, generally around late April through to the end of May. The header operations cut off the dry bean plant, thrashes out all the grains from the pods, sends the waste out the back of the header and empties the bean grain into a bin. The harvested soy beans are then stored in the growers silo until they are required at the factory.
At the farm the soy beans are graded, cleaned, and filled into a one tonne bulka bag. They are then delivered to Vitasoy's factory in Wodonga to be turned into one of our wonderful soymilk products.
