02380 696922
enquiries@soya-uk.com
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Southampton, UK
02380 696922
enquiries@soya-uk.com
Visit us
Southampton, UK
As of Autumn 2026, we have taken the decision to stop placing soya contracts with farmers to grow soya.
A combination of factors have led us to this decision:
Mr Trumps tariff war with China has caused China to switch their entire soya sourcing to South America. The has caused a significant glut of surplus soya beans in the USA and consequential drop in price. Many livestock farmers will have noticed that soya meal is dramatically cheaper in Autumn 2026, than it was 2 years ago. UK-grown non-GMO beans command a premium, but even with this premium, we are currently looking at values below £350/tonne, and the gross margins are simply not competitive at this price.
The ongoing war in Ukraine keeps cereal prices higher than they otherwise would be – thereby incentivising farmers to grow spring cereals rather than spring break crops. Not many UK farmers would regard current cereal prices as “high”, but it is a sobering thought that they would likely go much lower if there was an end to the war in Ukraine. Either way – higher cereal prices mean less incentive for growers to look at a new break crop like soya.
The fact that for the last 3 seasons, the SFi has represented a more lucrative and easier option for growers compared to growing spring break crops. SFi options are making it very hard for growers to justify growing a spring break crop with unknown margins versus a guaranteed income from Spring SFi options.
We continue to work with soya in terms of varietal development and agronomy, and we think it may be worth re-booting the soya programme with new varieties in 2028 or 2029. If political changes in the USA were to lead to more normal soya marketing, and if there is an end to the war in Ukraine, and if the new SFi options prove less attractive, then we believe that soya could be a commercially attractive crop for growers, but for now we don’t have any soya seed and there is little point in promoting a crop that is currently uncompetitive.
We do suggest however, that you consider growing millet with us – which does offer a very competitive gross margin per Hectare!!
Alternatively, if you were looking to grow protein for feeding animals, then Lupins would represent a much better option, and we would definitely recommend that route…