Soybean
Overview
Soybean is a basic agricultural good produced by crop fields and used as a food source and crafting ingredient in the game. It appears as one of the field crops that beaver colonies can cultivate to sustain population and feed workers. Soybean integrates into Timberborn’s food supply chain and interacts with irrigation, seasons, and faction-specific bonuses.
Soybean crops require tilled field plots and benefit from irrigation and temperate weather. They stop producing new growth during droughts because surface water and flowing sources cease; during drought soybeans can still be sustained only if irrigation water is supplied from water tanks or reservoirs and pumps. 
Folktails' playstyle that emphasizes agriculture and wind power synergizes well with soybean cultivation because their irrigation towers and low-energy infrastructure cover large crop areas and reduce dependence on fuel for powered irrigation.
Practical notes for cultivating and using soybean:
- Plant soybeans in contiguous field tiles to maximize harvest throughput; irrigation towers and water channels cover larger contiguous areas more efficiently than scattered small plots.
- Prioritize water storage and pumps before drought warnings appear. The game issues a visible drought countdown; complete final water provisioning and irrigation control immediately after that warning.
- During droughts, rely on stored water (tanks and reservoirs) to keep irrigated soybean fields alive; expect natural flowing water to decline and then stop until temperate returns.
- Use faction strengths: Folktails excel at large-scale, low-cost irrigation for soybean farms thanks to wind-powered infrastructure. Combine soybean farms with food-processing buildings or stockpiles appropriate for your colony’s logistics.
- Protect crops from environmental hazards such as
