Premium Value, Proven Performance

Where We Are Now

The numbers tell the story: The United Soybean Board has invested more than $138 million in high oleic development. That investment has returned nearly $403 million in premiums back to farmers planting high oleic traits through 2025.¹ For farmers, high oleic varieties deliver yields comparable to high-yielding commodity soybean varieties²— with biotech high oleic premiums ranging from $0.75 to $1.25 per bushel above conventional varieties².

Farmers in 16 states throughout the U.S. soybean belt currently grow high oleic soybeans, with the highest concentration of acres in Ohio, Indiana and the Delmarva region². Soybean farmers had access to 21 high oleic varieties in 2025 while farming 900,000 acres, with the potential to reach 5 to 7 million acres a decade from now.¹ That is about 1.1% of the 81.2 million acres of soybeans U.S. farmers planted in 2025; USDA’s latest estimate puts 2026 soybean plantings at 86.9 million acres¹².

Maturity groups range from 1.9 to 4.8 across all regions within the existing market, and seven of the 21 varieties are converted to Enlist genetics.¹ Plenish® high oleic Enlist E3® soybeans launched in 2025 and grew from 4% of Pioneer’s high oleic seed sales that year to 45% in 2026¹³. Bayer and Beck’s also plan to introduce herbicide-tolerant high oleic versions³. Available varieties include Plenish® from Pioneer®¹³, SOYLEIC® from Beck’s¹⁴ and FortaVIA® from Confluence Genetics®¹⁵. Seed availability remains one of the biggest constraints on expansion, and the transition to Enlist E3 genetics is expected to accelerate adoption⁴.

Current market breakout:² 55% dairy rations, 43% food applications, 2% industrial uses (asphalt, bioplastic, fire-resistant hydraulic oil).

Feed: The Market Driving High Oleic Growth

The market has shifted. High oleic soybeans were developed for the food industry, but animal feed now drives the majority of demand. Dairy rations account for 55% of the high oleic market, against 43% for food applications and 2% for industrial uses.¹ 

Modern dairy cows have tremendous energy demands, and fat carries more than twice the energy density of carbohydrates⁴. Roasted high oleic soybeans supply that fat along with bypass protein in a single, locally grown ingredient, replacing purchased fat supplements and protein sources that are among the most expensive line items in a dairy ration^{5, 6}.

• A Different Fat, and That Is the Point: High oleic soybeans contain at least 70% oleic acid, with today’s varieties typically testing between 68% and 80%. Conventional soybeans run about 22% to 28%. Because oleic acid is gentler on the rumen than the linoleic acid in conventional beans, high oleic soybeans carry a reduced risk of milk fat depression, letting nutritionists feed more fat without hurting cow performance⁶.
• More Milk Fat, More Energy-Corrected Milk: Milk fat concentration typically rises about 0.2 percentage units when high oleic soybeans replace conventional soybeans₍₇₎. In commercial diets balanced for bypass protein and fatty acids, nutritionists generally expect about a 0.10% milk fat increase, which adds roughly 1.16 pounds of energy-corrected milk per day for a Holstein producing 90 pounds of milk. In two 2024 Michigan State University studies with high-producing cows, roasted high oleic soybeans replacing conventional soybean meal and hulls averaged an 8.2-pound-per-day response against control diets without supplemental fat⁶.
• Documented Returns per Cow: Economic analysis published in the Journal of Dairy Science put the effect on milk income less feed cost at $0.14 to $0.18 per cow per day⁶. Michigan State University modeling found an average income-over-feed-cost advantage of $0.65 per cow per day for farms producing and roasting their own high oleic soybeans, and about $0.27 per cow per day for farms buying roasted beans and paying transport⁵.
• Practical Feeding Rates: Roasted high oleic soybeans are commonly fed at 3 to 7 pounds as-fed in high-producing Holstein diets, with some producers feeding 10 to 12 pounds; extruded or expelled high oleic products typically run 2 to 5 pounds⁶. Research has demonstrated benefits at inclusion rates as high as 16% of the diet, though 8% to 12% is more realistic for most operations depending on supply and storage⁴.
• Heat Treatment Is Where the Value Is Won or Lost: Properly roasted soybeans deliver far more metabolizable protein than raw beans. The target is 300°F for about two minutes, followed by 30 minutes of steeping and immediate cooling. Roasted high oleic soybeans should test at a Ross rumen undegradable protein value of 50% or higher within an expected range of 40% to 60%, with a protein dispersibility index of 9 to 11. Extruded and expelled high oleic meal reaches 65% or higher RUP with 85% or higher digestibility⁶.
• Known Costs Going In: Common high oleic roasting fees run $35 to $50 per ton plus about 10% shrink. Processing costs range from $25 to $45 per short ton depending on the system, with shrink and moisture loss adding roughly 10% to 13% more⁶.
• One Cow, One Acre: In a science-backed ration, one milking cow consumes about one acre of high oleic soybeans per year⁵. That math is why direct contracts between dairies and neighboring soybean growers are multiplying, with dairies commonly paying about $1 per bushel over the local elevator price and both sides holding down freight⁴.
• Checkoff Compliance on Direct Sales: When a grower sells high oleic soybeans directly to a dairy, the dairy is the first purchaser and the checkoff is assessed at one-half of 1% of the net market price, remitted to the Qualified State Soybean Board⁶.

Food: Stability, Shelf Life and a Qualified Health Claim

Food applications account for 43% of the high oleic market¹ and remain the foundation of the oil’s value proposition, particularly for frying, packaged foods and manufacturers reformulating away from synthetic additives.

• Longer Fry Life: Up to two to three times longer fry life than conventional soybean oil, with an oxidative stability index greater than 25 hours^{8, 3}.
• A Better Fat Profile: Three times the beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids found in many conventional vegetable oils, and more than 20% less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil^{8, 3}.
• FDA Qualified Health Claim: For oils containing at least 70% oleic acid, supportive but not conclusive scientific evidence suggests these oils may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease when replacing fats higher in saturated fat^{9, 8}.
• Lower Operating Costs for Foodservice: High oleic soybean oil reduces polymer build-up on foodservice equipment, lowering maintenance and operating costs, and lets manufacturers remove added synthetic antioxidants from their oils^{8, 3}.

Industrial: High-Heat Performance Beyond the Kitchen

• Asphalt: A biobased polymer made from high oleic soybean oil, developed by Iowa State University with checkoff support, offers a cleaner alternative to binding agents used in asphalt¹⁰ that could be used across America’s 2.8 million miles of paved roads¹¹.
• Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Oil: USB is formulating high oleic soybean oil as a primary base in biobased fire-resistant hydraulic fluid for mining, steel production, automotive manufacturing, forestry and agriculture applications.¹

One Bean, Three Markets: Why It Works Together

The same trait that makes high oleic oil valuable in a fryer makes it valuable in a dairy ration and in a hydraulic line. A higher share of oleic acid and a lower share of polyunsaturated fat means the oil resists breakdown under heat, resists oxidation on the shelf, and is gentler on the rumen. One breeding investment, three sets of customers.

That diversification is the strategic point. When food oil demand faces competition from other vegetable oils, feed demand keeps growing. When exports are uncertain, dairy demand is domestic and close to home, often within a few miles of the farm that grew the beans⁴. Industrial applications add a third outlet that does not compete with either. No single market has to carry the crop.

For the farmer, the three markets converge into one premium. High oleic varieties yield comparably to high-yielding commodity varieties and return $0.75 to $1.25 per bushel above conventional beans².

Additional Key Messages

• Feed now drives the market: Dairy rations account for 55% of high oleic demand¹ 
• The dairy economics are documented: Milk fat rises about 0.2 percentage units over conventional soybeans⁷, and income over feed cost improves by about $0.65 per cow per day for farms roasting their own beans and $0.27 for farms buying roasted beans⁵.
• One cow eats about one acre a year: That ratio makes local grower-to-dairy contracts practical, typically at about $1 per bushel over the local elevator price^{5, 4}.
• Food demand remains the foundation: Two to three times the fry life, an oxidative stability index above 25 hours, three times the monounsaturated fat of many conventional vegetable oils, and eligibility for the FDA qualified health claim^{8, 9}.

Sources

All links verified October 6, 2026. Statements marked ¹ or ² are United Soybean Board program data with no independent public source.

1. United Soybean Board estimate based on industry data secured through industry discussions and is subject to some variation
2. U.S. Soybean Export Council (soy checkoff partner). Sanders, R. and Tegeder, D. “US High Oleic Soybeans & High Oleic Soybean Oil Sourcing Guide for International Customers,” Fifth Edition. September 2026. https://ussec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/USSEC-High-Oleic-Sourcing-Guide_2026-Fifth-Edition.pdf
3. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health (United Soybean Board). “Dairy Farmers Are Driving New Demand for High-Oleic Soybeans.” August 2026. https://can.ussoy.org/dairy-farmers-are-driving-new-demand-for-high-oleic-soybeans/
4. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health. “High-Oleic Rewards Farmers” (Michigan State University Extension / Michigan Soybean Committee). February 2026. https://can.ussoy.org/high-oleic-rewards-farmers/
5. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health. “High Oleic Soy in Dairy Rations: Frequently Asked Questions for Dairy Nutritionists and Dairy Producers.” Fully funded by the national soybean checkoff, 2025. https://can.ussoy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/High-Oleic-Soy-in-Dairy-Rations-FAQ.pdf
6. University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension. Goldsmith, K. “Feeding High-Oleic Soybeans to Dairy Cattle.” May 1, 2026. https://dairy.extension.wisc.edu/articles/feeding-high-oleic-soybeans-to-dairy-cattle/
7. U.S. Soy (funded by the United Soybean Board). “High Oleic Soybean Oil.” Food Industry Solutions, food.ussoy.org. Updated July 2026. https://food.ussoy.org/food-industry-solutions/soy-fats-oils/high-oleic-soybean-oil/
8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FDA Completes Review of Qualified Health Claim Petition for Oleic Acid and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease.” Constituent Update, November 19, 2018. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-completes-review-qualified-health-claim-petition-oleic-acid-and-risk-coronary-heart-disease
9. Iowa State University BioCentury Research Farm. “High Oleic Soybean Oil Paves Way for Cleaner Asphalt.” December 6, 2019. https://www.biocenturyresearchfarm.iastate.edu/news/2019/high-oleic-soybean-oil-paves-way-cleaner-asphalt
10. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Highway Statistics 2024, Table HM-12: Public Road Length by Type of Surface. November 2025. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2024/pdf/hm12.pdf
11. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Crop Production (September 2026), “Soybeans for Beans Area Planted and Harvested.” September 11, 2026. https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/release-files/796056/crop0926.pdf
12. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health. “Pioneer Plenish High Oleic Enlist E3 Soybeans Experience Major Acreage Expansion” (Michigan Farm News). March 2026. https://can.ussoy.org/pioneer-plenish-high-oleic-enlist-e3-soybeans-experience-major-acreage-expansion/
13. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health. “Beck’s Acquires SOYLEIC™ from Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.” March 2026. https://can.ussoy.org/becks-acquires-soyleic-from-missouri-soybean-merchandising-council/
14. U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health. “The Next Five Years Belong to the Better Bean” (World Grain, Confluence Genetics). September 2026. https://can.ussoy.org/the-next-five-years-belong-to-the-better-bean/