Question

1. agriculture for 2016/2017, the usda projected the u.s. soybean yield to be 48.9 bushels per acre. if a bushel of soybeans weighs 60 lb, how does this compare to a european yield of 3.16 metric tons per hectare?

Explanation:

Step1: Convert US yield to metric tons per hectare

• First, convert bushels per acre to pounds per acre.

Since 1 bushel weighs 60 lb and the yield is 48.9 bushels per acre, the yield in pounds per acre is \(48.9\times60 = 2934\) lb/acre.

• Then, convert pounds to kilograms.

We know that 1 lb = 0.4536 kg. So, 2934 lb/acre \(=2934\times0.4536\) kg/acre \(=1331.86\) kg/acre.

• Next, convert acres to hectares.

Since 1 acre = 0.4047 hectare. So, the yield in kg/hectare is \(\frac{1331.86}{0.4047}\) kg/hectare \(= 3291\) kg/hectare.

• Finally, convert kg to metric tons (1 metric ton = 1000 kg).

The US yield is \(\frac{3291}{1000}=3.291\) metric tons per hectare.

Step2: Compare the two yields

The US yield is \(3.291\) metric tons per hectare and the European yield is \(3.16\) metric tons per hectare.

Answer:

The U.S. soybean yield (\(3.291\) metric tons per hectare) is higher than the European yield (\(3.16\) metric tons per hectare).