CEO Report To The Board & States March 2006

The scope of ASA’s work during the past few months has encompassed everything from international trade negotiations to the early stages of developing a new Farm Bill. ASA provided a variety of educational opportunities for hundreds of individual growers, while biotechnology moved one step closer to global acceptance. The city of Anaheim welcomed corn and soybean growers and their families to the 10th Anniversary Commodity Classic, and plans were announced to decode the DNA of the soybean. Below are a few of ASA’s accomplishments in these areas since the December Board of Directors meeting. –Stephen Censky, March 2006  ASA Works To Safeguard Soybean Trade Objectives ASA Representatives have had numerous discussions with top U.S. trade negotiators over the past several months -- including U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Portman, Special Agricultural Trade Negotiator Richard Crowder, Agriculture Secretary Johanns, and other U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials -- to ensure that U.S. soybean farmer trade priorities are advanced. ASA representatives traveled to Hong Kong, China, following the December Board meeting for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference. During the Hong Kong meetings as well as in other follow-up meetings, ASA has advocated priorities that include: 1. Substantial improvement in real market access in both developed and developing countries to expand world demand for soy and livestock products; 2. Agreement that developing countries that are world-class exporters will take on commitments similar to developed countries; 3. Elimination of differential export taxes; 4. The degree to which trade distorting domestic support is reduced must be commensurate with the degree to which real market access gains are achieved; 5. Commitment to a 2007 Farm Bill that provides an adequate safety net through WTO-compliant programs, and that corrects the imbalances in farm program benefits that have negatively affected U.S. soybean plantings. ASA will continue to press for an agreement that is beneficial to U.S. soybean producers.  ASA Soybean Leadership College 2006 Big Success More than 100 attendees took part in the 2006 ASA Leadership College. The event featured a variety of excellent trainers, in addition to special visits by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, and U.S. Senator Jim Talent. Soybean Leadership College is the dynamic education program that develops new leaders, increases current leader skills, enhances state and national interaction, fosters mutual understanding and facilitates common knowledge. What a great way to start the new-year! Soybean Genome To Be Mapped The U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture announced they would work together to sequence the soybean genome. Because of soybean mapping’s importance, the ASA has chaired the U.S. Legume Crops Genomics Initiative for the last five years. For the U.S. soybean farmer, the implications of decoding the DNA of the soybean is enormous, which is why ASA has taken a leadership role in encouraging genome work. Genome mapping is the path to improved yields and pathogen resistance, better and more nutritious soybeans for human food and animal feed, and a more abundant supply of soy-based Biodiesel.  ASA-Led Meeting Analyses Income And Conservation Programs for 2007 Farm Bill ASA farmer-leaders and staff met with other agriculture and commodity groups on Jan. 19, to discuss future income and conservation programs for farmers that could be considered for the 2007 Farm Bill. The discussion focused on how income support programs might be structured to provide farmers with an effective safety net while still being WTO-compliant. A second meeting of the groups will take place on March 21 to receive preliminary analysis results of the concepts. World Trade Organization Rules Against EU Biotech Moratorium A World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel sided with the United States, Canada and Argentina who had argued that the European Union’s (EU) review process for biotech commodities was broken and unfairly restricted trade. ASA had strongly pushed the U.S. Government to challenge the EU’s moratorium. While welcoming this WTO ruling against Europe’s flawed and non-science based approval process, ASA called on the Bush Administration to promptly mount a WTO challenge against Europe’s discriminatory traceability and labeling laws that apply to biotech crops. This favorable ruling should only be seen as step one of the actions against Europe’s unjustified and unscientific policies toward biotechnology. What must now follow is the more important step two, which is a WTO challenge of the EU’s unfair traceability and labeling laws which are costing U.S. soybean growers hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales each year.  ASA Hosts Soybean Rust Education Meetings in Five States In its ongoing efforts to educate growers about Asian soybean rust disease, ASA, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture, hosted a series of five rust education meetings during January and February 2006. About 450 participants attended the meetings, which were held in Saint Louis, Mo., Plain City, Ohio, Owensboro, Ky., Raleigh, N.C., and Davenport, Iowa. Entitled "Beyond 2005-Preparing for Rust is a Must," the agenda included an overview of "Why rust was not a factor in 2005, and what can we expect in 2006," presented by a USDA expert, and a "State Perspective on Rust," by the State Soybean Specialist. Following a working box lunch, the agenda featured "Dealing with Rust in the South-Lessons Learned from 2005," by a panel of experts, who have been working on ways to combat rust and improve crops. The meetings ended with an "Industry Perspective on 2005," by a panel of industry representatives, followed by questions and closing comments. Everyone who attended one of the meetings received a free Soybean Rust Wheel Chart that details soybean plant growth stages and treatment effectiveness at different growth stages. All ASA members were offered a free copy of the Soybean Rust Wheel Chart by mail.  10th Anniversary Commodity Classic Held In Anaheim Growers and their families from all across the country traveled to Anaheim, Calif., to "Celebrate the Magic of Success," at this year's Commodity Classic. With a total attendance of 3,433, the 2006 Commodity Classic was attended by more people than last year's event in Austin, and included 1,076 registered growers, which is more than in Austin or Charlotte. There were 84 media registered and the trade show included 651 booths sponsored by 182 companies.  SoyPAC Auction Exceeds Expectations ASA members raised nearly $45,000 in the first annual Soy Social and Auction. The auction, which ASA organized to benefit SoyPAC, took place last Thursday evening in Anaheim, Calif., in conjunction with the 2006 Commodity Classic. Approximately 300 ASA members attended the auction. All told, over 50 items were available for purchase at the auction, and each one of them was sold in a hurry. SoyPAC resources will be used to support congressional candidates that have routinely championed soybean priorities in Congress.