Much attention has been given to determining the causes of soybean yield variability across fields. However, little attention has been given to whether seed composition may contribute to the variability. In 1998, researchers at Iowa State University measured soybean protein and oil variability across a 50-acre field in central Iowa. The field contained a single variety, and approximately 10 soybean plants were collected from 50 points uniformly distributed across the field. The seeds were sampled for oil and protein content. Protein ranged from 34.4 to 37.9 percent, whereas oil ranged from 18.1 to 19.8 percent
