ASA's top priorities for 2011 include trade expansion, FY-2012 budget and appropriations, 2012 Farm Bill, and enactment of a multi-year extension of the biodiesel tax incentive. By developing and advocating soybean farmer top policy priorities, ASA continues its rich tradition of working in the best interest of U.S. soybean farmers. LEARN MORE
 

ASA supports making farm programs more efficient, effective, and defensible. LEARN MORE
 

ASA supports H.R. 2238 and S. 1277, which provide a 3 year extension of the biodiesel tax incentive through 2014 and restructure it from a blenders credit to a production tax credit. ASA opposes rescissions in the FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill to the mandatory Bioenergy Program funding provided under the 2008 Farm Bill. LEARN MORE

ASA supports $265 million for the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative; protecting funding for USDA conservation programs; not less than $1.9 billion to fund international food assistance programs; and $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for the FMD program. LEARN MORE

ASA supports timely deregulation of new biotech traits by APHIS based solely on sound science. Restoring timely approvals requires resolution of legal issues surrounding the coexistence of biotech, conventional, and organic crops. ASA will participate in the effort to develop solutions to these issues through the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on 21st Century Agriculture. LEARN MORE

ASA supports maintaining science-based processes for consideration of pesticide and environmental issues by EPA. Existing statutes including FIFRA must be followed and consultation with production agriculture stakeholders must be included in policymaking. LEARN MORE

ASA supports legislative measures that would prevent EPA from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. LEARN MORE

ASA supports a big outcome in the Doha Round of WTO trade negotiations that provides meaningful market access gains for soy and meat products, eliminates Differential Export Taxes, and results in advanced development countries taking on greater commitments in all three pillars of the agricultural negotiations that are more similar to the commitments required of develop countries. LEARN MORE

ASA supports achieving a balanced federal budget and reducing the national debt through a comprehensive approach to deficit reduction that includes all entitlement programs and all discretionary spending. ASA will oppose any reduction in spending on agriculture-related programs that is disproportionate to cuts in other programs. LEARN MORE

ASA strongly supports all U.S. food aid programs, and uses of food in development and emergency assistance to developing nations. ASA opposes replacing U.S. food aid with cash donations. LEARN MORE

AQUACULTURE

ASA supports implementation of marine aquaculture policies that will lead to development of a domestic offshore aquaculture industry. LEARN MORE

ASA supports the further development and promotion of the manufacturing and marketing of biobased products, including soy based products. ASA urges USDA to continue implementation and expansion of the federal BioPreferred procurement program and the biobased label. ASA supports enactment of a production tax credit for biobased products as a means of increasing competitiveness and promoting increased manufacturing of biobased products. LEARN MORE

ASA urges that the Capital Development Plan be included in a Water Title of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill or in a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that is enacted this year. The hours of service exemption should be maintained for agriculture in the next Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. LEARN MORE

ASA supports swift Congressional approval of the three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. ASA supports reauthorization of Trade Promotion Authority in order for the President to negotiate new trade agreements with expedited procedures. ASA opposes currency legislation or any action by Congress to unilaterally regulate the value of foreign currencies. ASA opposes legislation to take unilateral action on China’s currency that would invite retaliatory actions by China. LEARN MORE

Each year, the American Soybean Association brings together Members of Congress, their staff, government officials and farmer leaders at a luncheon featuring a wide variety of tasty soyfoods and beverages. The annual Congressional Soyfoods Lunch on Capitol Hill provides a unique opportunity for the U.S. soybean industry to showcase a taste of the ever-expanding selection of fabulous soyfoods and beverages available today. LEARN MORE

ASA supports resolving U.S. concerns with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) through a bilateral agreement between the EU and U.S. governments that would: Establish an actual greenhouse gas emissions saving value for U.S. soy biodiesel higher than the 35 percent reduction required for biofuels to qualify for EU tax credits and use mandates by 2013; and Reach agreement on an aggregate approach for certifying U.S. compliance with RED sustainable land use requirements. LEARN MORE

ASA urges Congress to express concern to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about interference with GPS signals that would result from LightSquared’s proposed broadband network. LEARN MORE