AUSTRALIAN soybean planting areas average 41,000 hectares. At present, soybeans are predominantly grown in inland NSW, including the Riverina and north-west; in central, southern and coastal Queensland; and in coastal areas of northern NSW.
Soybeans produced for oil and meal have come under increasing pressure from imports and the quantities produced for this market have fallen in the past decade.
However, the quantities of high quality edible soybeans produced for culinary purposes have been increasing and now account for about 50 per cent of all Australian soybean production.
Soybean production in the past few years has been curtailed by drought and shortage of irrigation water in inland areas and prices for competing crops such as sorghum and cotton.
However, in 2008/09 the area and yield have increased significantly due to timing of good rainfall in late 2008 and relative crop price changes. About 136,000 tonnes were produced in 2008/09.
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