1989 - ASA develops U.S. Government World Trade Organization (WTO) case against the EU's oilseed policies. After the U.S. won the case and a subsequent appeal in 1992, the EU market for U.S. soybean exports increased by 175,000 metric tons by 1996, equivalent to $573 million in sales.

1989 - ASA participated in negotiation of the Blair House Agreement, which restricted EU oilseed acreage and limited production of vegetable oil for industrial purposes on set-aside acres.

1990 – ASA successfully lobbies to establish soybean marketing loan at $5.02 per bushel, less a 2% origination fee, for a net loan of $4.92. $6 billion in loans were made to soybean farmers between 1990 and 1995. The marketing loan provides price protection by allowing producers to repay their loans when local prices fall below their loan rate. (specific benefits are identified under the 1996 Farm Bill point).

1990 – ASA and state associations support creation of the "0-92" planting option for non-program crops on program crop base acres, allowing soybean farmers to receive 92% of the deficiency payments for program crops on acres planted to soybeans. Payments on diverted base acres totaled $254 million in 1991-95. Soybean acreage increased 8% in 1990 to 1995, from 58 to 62.5 million acres.

1990 - ASA and state associations develop and lobby to create the national soybean checkoff program to fund research and promotion activities. Since 1990, the soybean checkoff has invested over $1 billion in promotion and research activities.

1993 - ASA successfully lobbies to eliminate the 2% marketing loan origination fee. Elimination of the fee increased the value of the loan and encouraged greater producer participation. 

1994 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to enact the "Vegetable Ink Printing Act, pioneer legislation that required a preference for vegoil-based products in the printing ink procurement programs of federal agencies.

Use of soybean oil in biobased products, not including biodiesel and soap, totaled 3.2 billion pounds in 2001-2007, the oil equivalent of 291 million bushels of soybeans. This represents over $500 million in value.

1996 - ASA and state associations lobby to increase the soybean marketing loan from $4.92 to $5.26 per bushel, the only commodity loan rate increase in the 1996 Farm Bill. Over $8.4 billion in loan deficiency payments were made to soybean farmers between 1998 and 2002.

1996 – ASA and state associations successfully support establishment of full planting flexibility in the 1996 Farm Bill. As a result, soybean acreage increased 13% in 1996-2005, from 63.8 to 72.1 million acres.

1998 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to amend the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to make biodiesel eligible as an alternative fuel. This marked the beginning of the commercial U.S. biodiesel industry, and biodiesel sales climb from virtually zero to 5 million gallons by 2001.

1999 - During a time of historically low commodity prices, ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to provide $500 million in oilseed payments (worth 14 cents per bushel) and freeze the soybean loan rate at $5.26 per bushel rather than having it decline to $5.16 per bushel (worth over $795 million to soybean producers in 1999-2001).

1999 - ASA files a petition with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) urging approval for a Soy Protein Health Claim. FDA approval of the Soy Protein Health Claim triggers an explosion of interest in soy protein among nutritionists, dieticians, food manufacturers and consumers. Sales of soy foods nearly double from $2.1 billion in 1999 to almost $4 billion in 2006.

2000 - Working with State Associations, ASA establishes the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program to promote the use of soy protein in international food assistance programs by USDA, USAID, and Private Voluntary Organizations. Use of soy protein products in U.S. food aid programs grew by 10,400 metric tons, worth $4.4 million, in 2001-2007.

2000 - ASA worked with U.S. trade officials to block China’s proposed soybean import quota at around 110 million bushels per year. As a result, China’s soybean imports now total over 1 billion bushels annually, with roughly half of the imports coming from U.S. soybean farmers. From 2000 to 2007, the value to U.S. soybean farmers of U.S. soybean exports over China's then-proposed quota level is over $17 billion.

2001 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to increase Federal soybean research funding by $3.2 million.

2001 - ASA develops specifications for and succeeds in obtaining U.S. government approval to make five soy protein products eligible for purchase under food aid programs.  Between 2001 and 2006, the value of soy exports under U.S. food aid programs totaled almost $2.6 billion.

2002 - Soybean farmers achieve full program crop status in 2002 Farm Bill with new 44-cent per bushel direct payment and $5.80 per bushel target price. $607 million per year in direct payments are made to soybean farmers, totaling $3.6 billion between 2002 and 2007. The $5.80 per bushel soybean target price improves the soybean safety net by 10 cents per bushel over pre-2002 levels.

2002 - ASA and state associations successful in including a new Bioenergy Program in the Farm Bill that provides payments to domestic biodiesel producers to make biodiesel more competitive with petroleum diesel. As a result of this program, and earlier changes in EPACT legislation, biodiesel sales climb from 5 million gallons in 2001 to 25 million gallons in 2003.

2002 - ASA was instrumental in passage of landmark provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill that require federal agencies to buy biobased products. Many biobased products, ranging from spray foam insulation to carpet backing to cleaning supplies, can be made with soybean oil to reduce their petroleum content. Federal procurement encourages growth of private-sector markets.

2002 - ASA successfully lobbies for establishment of the Dole-McGovern Food for Education Program, which created funding for new soy programs. Exports of soybean products under Dole-McGovern totaled 79,600 metric tons in 2004-2006.

2003 - ASA and state associations succeed in increasing Federally-funded soy research by $10 million per year over year 2000 levels. As a result of these and previous efforts, Federally-funded soybean research now exceeds $40 million per year.

2004 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to establish the biodiesel tax incentive. Passage of the tax incentive stimulates biodiesel to grow from 25 million gallons in 2003 to 75 million gallons in 2005. The impact of the incentive on soybean prices is conservatively estimated at 8 cents per bushel, or over $250 million per year in increased revenues for soybean farmers.

2004 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to allow schools to offer soymilk as an option under the school lunch and school breakfast programs without requiring a doctor's note. With 5-10% of the school-age population needing alternatives to cow’s milk (due to allergies, lactose intolerance, religious beliefs, or cultural practices), the potential growth of soymilk in school lunch and breakfast programs is great.

2004 – ASA strongly supports the successful negotiation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) between the United States, the Dominican Republic, and the Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In 2004-2006, U.S. exports of soybeans to CAFTA-DR countries increased $20 million, soybean meal exports increased $108 million, and soybean oil exports increased $8 million.

2004 – ASA supports negotiation of the Chilean Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The value of U.S. soybean meal exports to Chile has increased from $248,000 before the Agreement to $43 million in 2006.

2005 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2008. Biodiesel sales grow from 75 million gallons in 2005 to 450 million gallons in 2007. The growth in biodiesel sales raises soybean prices by a conservative estimate of at least $2.00 per bushel, increasing annual soybean farmer revenue by $5.1 billion.

2005 - ASA and state associations led political, media, and education efforts to ensure that the United States was prepared to respond to Asian soybean rust disease. As a result of ASA’s efforts: USDA has spent approximately $2.5 million annually to implement a sentinel plot and diagnosis network; The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted 28 approvals for fungicides to be used on soybeans with either Section 18 (emergency) or Section 3 (full) approval; and U.S. soybean farmers were provided with comprehensive education and training programs to teach them about soybean rust scouting, detection and management.

2006 - As a result of ASA and state association efforts, USDA and the Department of Energy announce a joint initiative to map the soybean genome. Genome mapping is key to improved soy yields, pathogen resistance, and improved nutrition. Additionally, in response to ASA leadership, USDA announces $5 million for legume genomics funding.

2007 - After five years of coalition lobbying with other farm organizations, ASA and state associations convince Congress to pass legislation authorizing over $2.2 billion for the construction and upgrading of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. With 70% of soybean exports moving through these waterways to the Gulf, modernizing this infrastructure is key to maintaining U.S. soybean farmer competitiveness in international markets.

2007 - To enhance the federal biobased procurement program, ASA has continued to champion biobased procurement in the 2007 Farm Bill.

2007 - ASA worked hard to persuade Congress to approve Free Trade Agreements with Mexico (1993), Canada (1989), Chile (2004) and Morocco (2005). Collectively, these FTAs have resulted in increased sales of $16,264,927,162 or $16.26 billion in soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil to these markets.

2008 – After two years of intense lobbying by ASA, state soybean associations, and other organizations, the 2008 Farm Bill was enacted by Congress over the veto of President Bush. The legislation increased the soybean target price from $5.80 to $6.00 per bushel, authorized and funded a new Bioenergy Program at $300 million, continued to fund the Biodiesel Education Program, and authorized a new Quality Incentive Program.

2008 – ASA successfully lobbied to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2009. Congress also closed the “splash and dash” loophole which allowed foreign-produced biodiesel to enter the U.S., claim the tax credit, and be re-exported to another country. Growth in biodiesel sales has raised soybean prices by at least $2.00 per bushel.

2008 – Concerted ASA efforts contributed to approval of two new biotech soybeans by the European Union in advance of commercialization in 2009. LibertyLink soybeans received final approval in September, and Roundup Ready2Yield soybeans were approved in December. These approvals will provide U.S. soybeans continue access to the EU market for over $1.0 billion in soybean sales annually.

2008 – As a result of ASA efforts, USDA revised regulations for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program to allow dried and canned whole soybeans and fortified soybean milk and tofu under the program.

2008 – ASA joined other industry leaders in applauding passage of the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. The accord is projected to increase U.S. soybean meal exports to Peru by $67 million and soybean oil by $70 million by 2025.

2008 – ASA worked with U.S. negotiators in advance of the decision to reject a flawed proposal for the Doha trade negotiations that did not provide sufficient market access for U.S. soybean exports. The proposal would have required sharp reductions in U.S. domestic support programs, while allowing developing countries to exempt or protect their markets from imports.

2009 – ASA submitted its policy positions to the incoming Obama Administration, including long-term enactment of the biodiesel tax credit, implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill, passage of the Colombia, South Korea and Panama Free Trade Agreements, and funding to upgrade locks and dams on the Mississippi River system.

2009 – ASA and other members of the American Oilseed Coalition submitted a list of countries that are priorities for U.S. oilseed industries for future Free Trade Agreements. They include Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, Egypt, and India.

2009 – After months of diligent work by ASA, USDA announced that it would use the average of 2007 and 2008 Season Average Prices to determine the revenue guarantee under the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program. The two-year guarantee is estimated at $10.13 per bushel compared to $8.42 per bushel if the Department had used average prices in 2006 and 2007. For a producer with 500 acres of soybeans, the difference represents up to an addition $30,000 in revenue protection in 2009.

2009 – ASA successfully worked with USDA to provide continued funding for the Asian Rust Pest Information Platform for Education and Extension. USDA will provide $750,000 for the soybean rust sentinel plot and diagnostic network in FY-2009, to be leveraged by $500,000 in national and state check-off funding.

2009 – ASA received $12.8 million in funding from USDA/FAS for soybean export promotion activities under the Market access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD program for FY-2009.

2010 – ASA worked with the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its formula for determining the greenhouse gas emissions reduction for biodiesel relative to petroleum diesel. As a result, biodiesel will be eligible to meet the renewable fuel mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2). EPA’s decision followed strong grassroots efforts by ASA and state soybean organizations that convinced EPA that its initial calculations were flawed.

2010 – ASA continued to work with other agricultural organizations to prevent EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

2010 – 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.

2010 – At ASA’s encouragement, EPA committed to soybean farmers that a new NPDES permitting system for pesticide applications over water would be narrowly crafted, excluding typical pesticide applications by farmers.

2010 – ASA and state leaders were successful in convincing the House to drop language from its Gulf oil spill legislation that would have prohibited offshore aquaculture.

2010 – ASA worked to facilitate the continued availability of planting seed with biotech traits to soybean farmers once patents expire. At ASA’s urging, Monsanto committed to maintain export market approvals for the first biotech soybean trait, Roundup Ready (RR1), through 2021. This commitment will ensure export market access for U.S. soybeans containing the RR1 trait for the next decade, and will provide greater certainty to seed companies and university breeders who may decide to continue offering RR1 seed as a generic trait when its patent expires after 2014.
 

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