ASA testified in support of agricultural trade with Cuba before the House Committee on Agriculture. ASA opposes restrictions on exports of U.S. agricultural commodities for national security or foreign policy reasons that are not supported by all other major world producers and exporters, and favors a normal trading relationship with Cuba including direct banking and elimination of the cash in advance rule. ASA also supports the country’s eligibility for the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs and unrestricted travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens to facilitate new agriculture sales.

To help promote American food and agricultural products overseas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded ASA a total of $11,997,264 in new funding including $5,171,415 from the MAP, and $6,825,849 from the FMD program, which was the highest amount allocated to any FMD program participant. ASA invests these funds with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, which implements program activities to expand U.S. soybean and product exports that have reached record-breaking levels in recent years.

ASA closely monitored the progress of offshore aquaculture legislation and ASA leaders met with Congressional staff in support of offshore aquaculture legislation. Meetings focused on the need for strong research authority and funding for alternative feeds like soy. ASA strongly supports passage of offshore aquaculture legislation and will be an active participant in the legislative process.

Total registrations were 4,330 at the 2010 Commodity Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center March 4-6, in Anaheim, Calif. The trade show featured 816 booths representing 202 companies. Media registrations were 132. Grower registrations were 1,369. Total average acres, and average acres for soybean and corn, continued to trend upward, increasing over 2009 and previous years. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack delivered the keynote address.

A record number of 431 people registered for the 2010 ASA Soy Social and a record amount of $73,021 was raised at the event including $17,950 from registrations, $3,680 in donations and $51,391 from the auction. The proceeds are used to benefit SoyPAC, ASA’s political action committee.

ASA geared up for debate on a new Farm Bill with establishment of a 2012 Farm Bill Working Group to develop policies key to the future of all U.S. soybean growers. ASA is looking for ways to make farm programs more efficient, effective, and defensible. Farm programs play an important role in underpinning the strength of the farm economy which, in turn, has supported the overall U.S. economy during the current recession. The importance of an effective safety net for farm income has grown as the rising cost of farm inputs has increasingly pressured farm profitability.

ASA provided comments on May 3, to the National Research Council Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production. ASA told the Committee that biodiesel made from soybean oil can play a vital role in fulfilling the Renewable Fuel Standard without any adverse impacts to the food or feed markets.

ASA testified on June 22, about the importance of the China export market to U.S. soybean growers at a hearing of the U.S. International Trade Commission. In 2009, the value of U.S. soybean exports to China reached a record $9.2 billion. Prospects for continued growth in Chinese soybean imports are excellent.

ASA went live with the iMIS Association Management Software System in early July. In addition to membership processing, some of the other functions of the system are data/contact management, committee management, event/meeting registration and management, member communication tools and production of reports. On May 27, ASA began using Informz to distribute the Weekly Leader Letter. The Informz system is a module that works in tandem with the iMIS system. Coupled together, Informz and iMIS will help ASA better serve the needs of its members through more efficient processes and data maintenance.

U.S. soy exports had a total value of more than $21 billion for the 2009-10 marketing year ending Aug. 31, 2010. The 1.9 billion bushel equivalents of soybeans, soy meal and soy oil exported during the marketing year set a record for the fourth consecutive year. Whole soybean exports for the year were 1.45 billion bushels, up from the 08-09 total of 1.24 billion bushels.

Record-setting exports were in part achieved due to ASA’s policy successes that advanced soybean production and exports through market driven Farm Bill legislation, trade agreements that brought down trade barriers, and new biotech soybean seed introductions that did not disrupt soybean exports. Record exports also are a tribute to the years of successful market development efforts carried out by ASA International Marketing offices through USDA and soybean checkoff investments.

ASA moved a giant step closer to its goal of achieving ratification of a long overdue United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) that would create landmark opportunities for U.S. soybeans for crushing, food-grade beans, soybean meal and eventually soybean oil. For a number of years, ASA has provided input to the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA regarding the benefits of the FTA with Korea.

The KORUS FTA is one of three that are pending approval by Congress. Agreements with Colombia and Panama also have been awaiting action for more than three years. ASA is calling for action on all three FTAs, pointing out the enormous cost of letting other countries move forward first.

ASA successfully lobbied USDA to eliminate the rural area and domestic ownership requirements in the Bioenergy Program rule that excluded participation of several significant soy biodiesel plants. As a result, these producers will receive much-needed payments at a time when the biodiesel tax credit is not available. Thanks to ASA’s efforts during the last Farm Bill, there will be a total of $300 million made available to biodiesel and other advanced biofuels producers over four years (FY2009-12). 

ASA expressed appreciation after USDA announced it will provide up to $550 million of assistance to producers of soybeans and other crops who suffered losses due to high moisture conditions in 2009. ASA strongly supported efforts to compensate soybean farmers for severe quality and yield losses after the mid-South received record rainfall in August 2009.

ASA officially withdrew from the Leonardo Academy’s initiative to develop a sustainable agriculture standard for the American National Standards Institute in October. While ASA supports the goal of a sustainable agriculture standard, it had become clear that the Leonardo Academy process is biased against a balanced and open analysis of modern agriculture. Fifty-four other commodity and farm organizations representing U.S. production agriculture interests joined ASA in withdrawing from the process that is dominated by environmental groups, certification consultants, agro-ecology and organic farming proponents.

On Dec. 17, ASA celebrated final passage of legislation that includes a retroactive extension of the Biodiesel Tax Incentive and ASA-supported Estate Tax provisions. Retroactive extension of the biodiesel tax credit through Dec. 31, 2011, represents a significant legislative achievement on a key ASA priority. In addition, the legislation includes provisions that will raise the exclusion level to $5 million per spouse and lower the tax rate on estates exceeding the exclusion to 35 percent. Passage of this legislation will strengthen the business climate for farm and ranch families and help to ensure that agricultural businesses can be passed to future generations.

ASA History Highlights