The net energy (NE) of soybean meal (SBM) has been estimated in several experiments at the University of Illinois. In these experiments the NE of SBM was estimated to be between 83 and 100% of the NE in corn, which is greater than all current book values. These values were determined using indirect calorimetry or by using the slaughter procedure. It was also demonstrated that replacing soybean meal with corn and crystalline amino acids did not increase diet NE, which further indicates that the NE of SBM is close to that of corn. In a fat equivalence experiment, where the energy value of SBM was estimated based on the gain to feed ratio of pigs, the estimated NE was around 10% greater than in corn. However, there appears to be a difference in SBM NE values determined in academic facilities with strict environmental controls and those derived in commercial settings. Academic facilities lack pathogen and/or environmental stressors (type, density) that are encountered in commercial barns housing 1000 or more pigs per room. Therefore, a series of experiments (n = 5) conducted in commercial settings across multiple sites using a growth assay model indicates that the SBM NE value relative to corn (DM basis) ranges from 98 to 125%. In Exp. 1, 1900 pigs (36 to 66 kg BW) were used in a 28 d growth assay with 19 pigs/pen. The SBM NE value relative to corn was estimated to be 109% of corn (DM basis). In Exp. 2 and 3 a total of 800 pigs (Exp. 2, 47 to 67 kg BW; Exp. 3, 67 to 110 kg BW) were used in a 21 and 42 d growth assay, respectively. The SBM NE value relative to corn was estimated to be 98 and 101% corn (DM basis), respectively. A total of 2233 and 3796 pigs, initially 11 kg and 17.6 kg BW were used in Exp. 4 (21 d period) and 5 (22 d period), respectively. The NE value of SBM for Exp. 4 and 5 was estimated to be 105 and 125% of corn (DM basis), respectively. Interestingly, these higher NE estimates have been recently replicated by other production companies with commercial research facilities as well.