WRDA Passes Senate The United States Senate passed S. 728, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2005, by a voice vote on July 19, signaling a great victory for soybean growers. ASA has made passage of legislation to improve U.S. transportation infrastructure a top priority, and for many years the ASA, its state affiliates and grassroots members have worked tirelessly for passage. Senate passage of WRDA will provide funding for construction of seven new locks and other improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Over 75 percent of U.S. soybean exports move to world ports via the upper Mississippi and Illinois River systems. The House passed WRDA in July 2005, by a vote of 406-14. The Senate and House will now go into conference to resolve differences and produce a final bill. ASA and other groups are vigorously urging Congress to complete the conference and enact WRDA during the December "lame duck" session.

ASA Leads Delegation On ARS Overhead Concerns, USDA Postpones ASA organized and led a delegation of commodity groups to meet with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Service on the proposed implementation of a new 10 percent Indirect Project Support Charge (for overhead costs) on checkoff-funded research, which ASA opposed. Soybean farmers provide an average of $4 million annually for cooperative research with ARS. After opposition to the policy when first announced, USDA postponed it for two years, but during the meeting, the USDA officials announced that the charge is postponed indefinitely. ASA is pleased with the outcome and welcomed the opportunity to work with both the soybean checkoff and a broad group of commodities to find a successful resolution.

ASA Is A Leading Recipient Of USDA Market Promotion Funding When USDA announced 2006 fiscal year allocations for multiple agricultural promotion programs, ASA was a leading recipient of funding with awards of more than $12 million. Under the Foreign Market Development Cooperator program, ASA will receive the most of any organization with $7,090,643. Under the Market Access Program, ASA was awarded $4,623,364, and through the 2006 Quality Samples Program, ASA will receive $50,000. This level of success is a credit to the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the ASA International Marketing staff who manage and implement market development programs for U.S. soy, and importantly, to the farmer-directors of USB and ASA who guide the IM efforts and strategic plan.

ASA Recognized For Its Role In Development Of Renewable Fuels Standard At a renewable fuels announcement made by EPA Administrator Johnson and hosted by Nebraska Governor Heineman, ASA was commended for its role in the development of regulations for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law last August, included a nationwide RFS that will put the U.S. on track to double the use of renewal fuels like ethanol and biodiesel by 2012. Thanks to several years of hard work by ASA and others, the RFS will help reduce dependence on foreign oil through increased use of biodiesel and ethanol.

ASA Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Japanese Customers On August 24, U.S. soybean leaders and staff gathered in Tokyo, Japan, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first ASA overseas office. The opening has historic significance because ASA’s Japan office was the very first overseas commodity office to receive funding for market development activities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The event also marked 50 years of partnership between U.S. soybean farmers and the Japanese soybean industry. In 2005, Japan purchased more than $1 billion of U.S. soybeans and soybean products. Japanese soybean imports during the 50 years since the ASA office opened total some 179 million tons (6.6 million bushels), of which U.S. soybeans account for 153 million tons (5.6 million bushels).

ASA Calls For Competitive Program For Soybean Growers In 2007 Farm Bill On Sept. 20, ASA urged Congress to increase support levels for soybeans to competitive levels if current farm programs are renewed in the 2007 Farm Bill. In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee, ASA stated that soybean farmers support the basic structure of farm programs under the 2002 Farm Bill, but believe adjustments are needed in oilseed support levels in the event these programs are reauthorized. ASA cited rising domestic and global demand for animal feed and vegetable oil. U.S. oilseed producers need to be able to respond to these market signals. Low oilseed support levels in the 2002 Farm Bill could discourage producers from planting oilseed crops.

ASA Supports Use Of Soyfoods In Federal WIC Program ASA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support including soyfoods in the USDA-administered Women, Infants, and Children program. Almost half of all infants, and about one-quarter of all children 1-4 years of age, in the United States now participate in WIC. The inclusion of tofu, soymilk and canned legumes provides flexibility to participants, as well as economical and healthy sources of protein, calcium, fiber and other nutrients. ASA has expressed several concerns about some of USDA’s proposals that could limit access to soy products, cause confusion among consumers, or which call for nutrient requirements that do not match current commercial levels.

WISHH Midwest Workshop Draws Record Number From Around The World The ASA World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program's Midwest Workshop attracted approximately 60 attendees, a record number of participants from as far away and apart as Honduras, South Africa and Pakistan, including representatives of developing country food industries and private voluntary organizations, as well as U.S. soybean processing leaders. Because of a demand for more intensive training, WISHH expanded this year’s program from three days to a full week.