ASA TOP LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PRIORITIES March 2013

1. Risk Management and Farm Policy

1. Pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill that strengthens farmers' ability to manage risk, does not distort planting decisions, reauthorizes and funds market development programs, and reforms conservation programs to focus on working lands while significantly reducing the number of productive acres enrolled in the CRP

2. Ensure crop insurance is a viable risk management tool across all regions of the country

2. Biodiesel

1. Defend the Renewable Fuel Standard

2. Extend the biodiesel tax incentive past 2013

3. Trade Expansion

1. Achieve new market access for soy and meat in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations

2. Pass Trade Promotion Authority to allow the United States to consider new trade agreements

3. Address barriers to U.S. soy and meat products in a US-EU Free Trade Agreement

4. Challenge trade restrictions to U.S. soy resulting from the EU's Renewable Energy Directive

5. Improve the timeliness and predictability of Chinese, EU, and other major market regulatory approvals for new biotech traits, pursue global low-level presence policies

4. Federal Budget and Appropriations

1. Agriculture is willing to do its fair share to reduce spending provided cuts are proportionate

2. Protect funding for export market development, food aid, agricultural research, crop insurance, and conservation on working lands

3. Seek appropriation of funds for FY13 for Biobased Market Program and Biodiesel Education Program

5. Transportation and Infrastructure

1. Support funding and actions by the Corps of Engineers to ensure maintenance of channel depths necessary to avoid disruptions to barge traffic on the Mississippi River and tributaries

2. Support infrastructure proposals that fund and streamline maintenance and construction of waterways infrastructure, including locks and dams

6. Ag-Related Regulatory Actions

1. Oppose EPA actions to supersede state authority in the Chesapeake Bay and other watersheds, and the use of flawed models that don’t reflect current agricultural practices and conservation results

2. Support timely, science-based reviews by USDA/APHIS in deregulating new biotech traits

3. Eliminate duplicative pesticide permitting requirements

7. Aquaculture and Sustainability

1. Support regulatory and legislative initiatives for a U.S.-based aquaculture industry

2. Meet U.S. and global demands for sustainable soy in a manner that enhances the competitiveness and sustainability of U.S. soybean producers