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AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

2010 RESOLUTIONS
As Adopted by the
Voting Delegates at the
Annual Meeting of the Members
March 5, 2010

I. EXPORTS, MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE POLICIES

1.0.00 Preamble
1.0.01 The American Soybean Association (ASA) recognizes that U.S. soybeans and soybean products must have fair access to world markets and must be competitive on price, quality and availability for markets.


1.1.00 Government Support of Market Development and Export Sales
1.1.01 The U.S. Administration shall take into account the impact of international exchange rates on U.S. export competitiveness.

1.1.02 ASA encourages Congress and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a support to the investment of farmer checkoff dollars to maximize funding for market development efforts and to respond quickly to opportunities in international trade.

1.1.03 ASA encourages the maximization of funding for market development efforts and to respond quickly to opportunities in international trade through the investment of farmer checkoff dollars to maximize use of Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

1.1.04 ASA supports efforts to improve U.S. competitiveness in global markets for soybeans including whole, processed and high value products.

1.1.05 ASA urges Congress and the Administration to aggressively support P.L. 480 and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) grant programs and initiatives to expand exports of U.S. soybeans and soybean products. 

1.1.06 ASA supports provision of sufficient export credit guarantees.

1.1.07 ASA commends the FAS of the USDA for work in expanding markets for U.S. soybeans, whole and processed, as well as other U.S. agricultural products.  ASA recommends that future Federal funding for foreign market development be maintained at an annual rate commensurate to inflation rates and increased marketing needs.

1.1.08 ASA strongly urges that USB appropriate funds to international marketing in order to fully qualify for USDA/FAS matching funds.

1.1.09 ASA supports all meat, poultry, dairy, and aquaculture export programs.

1.1.10 ASA encourages the development of common national and international standards for maximum residual levels of animal health products in livestock trade internationally.

1.1.11 ASA shall continue to be the U.S. soybean growers’ International Marketing Contractor with the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).


1.2.00 Quality and Grading Standards for Soybeans and Soybean Products
1.2.01 ASA believes grain quality standards should be international in scope.  These standards affect the long-term future of the industry and have a major role in market efficiency, improved quality and competition among sellers.

1.2.02 ASA supports a grading and marketing system that compensates producers for selling clean, high quality soybeans.   ASA supports beginning a process to determine if farm program or LDP payments should include a premium/differential for higher quality attributes such as, but not limited to, protein and oil.

1.2.03 ASA supports the following principles as long-term objectives in any revisions or updating of present standards to:

ASA will communicate to soybean farmers the implications of anticipated or actual changes to grading standards.

1.2.04 ASA recommends that the USDA and soybean producers strive to ensure that quality discounts are justifiable.

1.2.05 ASA encourages a study be undertaken by the appropriate governmental agencies, farmer leaders and industry representatives to determine the need for additional intrinsic testing capabilities, revised procedures, or other controls resulting from the rapid growth in volume and number of differentiated identity preserved marketing’s of enhanced trait soybeans.

1.2.06 ASA encourages the development of a common national and international standard for monitoring of calibrations for all grain analyzing technologies.

1.2.07 ASA supports a grading and marketing system that recognizes the intrinsic quality and value of soybeans and to reward farmers who are capable of producing and marketing soybeans of enhanced value to users.

1.2.08 ASA encourages strict enforcement of the handling of any treated seed to ensure it does not get into any commercial shipment of U.S. soybeans.


1.3.00 Trade Policy
1.3.01 ASA supports the removal of foreign barriers to international trade in soybeans, soybean products, as well as livestock, poultry and aquaculture products and the prevention of the establishment by other nations of barriers to the importation and consumption of U.S. soybeans, soybean products, as well as livestock products. 

1.3.02 ASA strongly encourages reinstatement of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). 

1.3.03 ASA strongly opposes the imposition of restrictions on the export of any and all agricultural commodities including soybeans and soybean products, whether it is for supply, national security, or foreign policy reasons.  Any embargo, sanction, or other restriction on exports of U.S. agricultural commodities for national security or foreign policy reasons shall require a formal determination by the President and Congress that such action is supported and joined by all other major world producers and exporters of affected commodities.  Any action would terminate unless the President re-certifies this determination on an annual basis. 

Contract sanctity should be guaranteed for all foreign purchasers of U.S. agricultural commodities.  ASA calls on the President and Congress to revise legislation that exempts sales of U.S. agricultural products from economic sanctions so that normal commercial credit can be offered by U.S. entities.  ASA shall increase its efforts to inform U.S. soybean producers and consumers as to the scope and the ramifications of above said sanctions on U.S. farmers.

1.3.04 ASA favors the immediate removal of agricultural trade and travel restrictions for Cuba and urges Cuban eligibility for Foreign Market Development (FMD), Market Access Programs (MAP), GSM and other credit programs. 

1.3.05 ASA opposes the establishment of restrictions by the United States on the importation of fairly traded goods that may precipitate retaliation against the export of U.S. soybeans, soybean based products and livestock products by other nations or which would economically burden U.S. soybean farmers.

1.3.06 ASA strongly supports achievement of a Level Playing Field (LPF) trading basis for oilseeds, oilseed products and plant-based oil and products in future negotiations.  The LPF approach is a multilateral phase-out of all trade distorting export subsidies, including differential export taxes, and all tariff and non-tariff barriers to oilseeds, oilseeds product and plant-based oil and product imports.

1.3.07 The Blair House Agreement (BHA) sets a WTO-bound limit on subsidized oilseed production in the EU, and ASA insists on strict enforcement of the EU’s commitments.  The U.S. has the reasonable expectation that (a) the subsidized area planted to oilseeds will not exceed the BHA level of about 4.9 million hectares plus the BHA-consistent area of new EU members and (b) oilseed production on set aside for industrial use will not exceed 1 million tons on a soybean meal equivalent basis.  As the EU implements changes in its agricultural policies and implements new “energy crop” payments to encourage the growing of energy crops, including oilseeds, the U.S. Government must insist that the EU be in compliance with its obligations.  The U.S. must insist that the EU policies, including single-form payments, energy crop payments, and biodiesel tax incentives, do not nullify or impair the zero-tariff binding for oilseeds the EU granted the U.S. in previous trade negotiations.

1.3.08 ASA insists that the Federal government ensure the countries that sign the WTO Agreement and Free Trade Agreements adhere to their intent. 

1.3.09 ASA insists the office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) adhere to commitments made by the Administration to ASA preceding Senate ratification of WTO.  These commitments include promoting domestic markets for soybean products. 

1.3.10 ASA insists USDA, the U.S. Trade Representative and any other relevant agencies should be more aggressive in investigations and pursuing complaints against countries whose tariff structure and/or non-tariff barriers may violate said countries WTO and FTA obligations.

1.3.11 ASA strongly urges the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate a WTO complaint against the EU’s discriminatory and non-science based traceability and labeling regulations.

1.3.12 ASA supports comprehensive WTO negotiations as the best means to increase worldwide incomes and reduce trade barriers to soy and livestock products.  ASA believes that bilateral or regional Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations should be focused toward those countries that represent significant commercial markets for U.S. soybeans and products, livestock products, and agricultural exports in general.

1.3.13 ASA strongly recommends that the WTO negotiations encompass all sectors as a comprehensive single undertaking.  This means that all aspects of the negotiations should be included and implemented simultaneously in order to get the best results for U.S. agriculture. (No early harvest)

1.3.14 ASA supports substantial improvements in market access for soybeans and soybean products, including livestock, poultry and aquaculture products, as the top priority of the DOHA Development Round negotiating under the WTO.

1.3.15 ASA believes that any new WTO agreement reducing trade-distorting (i.e., “amber box”) domestic support must reflect the extent to which market access is increased in developing and developed countries through reductions in tariffs and other measures.

1.3.16 ASA strongly supports maintaining the “de minimus” exemption of product and non-product specific support from reductions required in trade-distorting domestic programs.

1.3.17 ASA strongly opposes any reduction commitments or caps on “green box” domestic support policies that do not, or only minimally, distort production or trade.

1.3.18 ASA strongly supports establishing a rules-based system for disciplining the use of export credits and similar government supported export financing programs.

1.3.19 ASA strongly supports defining Differential Export taxes as export subsidies that would  be subject to discipline and elimination in a Doha Round agreement.

1.3.20 ASA strongly supports the elimination of differential export taxes for oilseeds, oilseed products, and plant-based oil and products.

1.3.21 ASA opposes including disciplines on food assistance programs in the WTO negotiations.

1.3.22 ASA strongly opposes allowing countries to self-designate as “developing countries” for the purpose of obtaining special and differential treatment under the WTO.  ASA supports the establishment of objective criteria for determining if a country is eligible to claim special and differential treatment overall or for certain sectors.

1.3.23 ASA strongly opposes exempting government supported domestic transportation and marketing subsidy programs in developing countries from disciplines under the WTO.

1.3.24 ASA strongly opposes including in the WTO agreement the precautionary principle or other food safety concerns that are not based on sound science that could be used as a justification for restricting market access.

1.3.25 ASA supports increasing funding of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to a level adequate to stabilize the economies of countries that are major markets for U.S. soybean and soybean product exports, providing these countries adopt the necessary fiscal policy to correct the conditions. 

1.3.26 ASA supports trade contracts that protect buyers and sellers, but does not support unrealistic specifications that are designed to be non-tariff trade barriers. 

1.3.27 ASA supports value-added export programs that include U.S. soybeans and soybean products in their production or composition to meet the changing needs of the market.

1.3.28 ASA encourages that resources be utilized within USDA to develop a permanent cadre of veterinarian and plant pathologists to serve as trained negotiators whose sole mission is to resolve animal and plant health sanitary/phytosanitary trade barriers detrimental to the export of U.S. meat and animal products, and U.S. grains and oilseeds.

1.3.29 ASA encourages the American Oilseed Coalition (AOC) to continue the analysis and development of strategies for trade agreements, including WTO and Free Trade agreements determining how they impact the soybean producer and industry, and to report findings back to state and national soybean organizations on a timely basis.

1.3.30 ASA supports voluntary country of origin labeling.

1.3.31 ASA strongly supports Congressional passage of the Colombia, Panama and South Korea Free Trade Agreements.

1.3.32 ASA strongly supports that the U.S. negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries and other countries that may join the negotiations in the future, which may provide new market access opportunities for soybean, soybean products and livestock products and new soybean based products.

1.3.33 ASA strongly opposes any product exclusions from Free Trade Agreements (FTA) on the grounds that they serve as negative precedents for countries seeking to exclude soy or livestock products.

1.3.34 ASA urges the Federal Government to take every possible action to prevent and mitigate the impact of any and all economically significant diseases of livestock and poultry.

1.3.35 ASA insists Congress and the Administration work tirelessly to ensure that any food traceability laws and/or U.S. seed companies and shipper’s contracts not transfer financial liability onto U.S. producers due to grain shipments containing unapproved GMO grain traits.

1.3.36 ASA urges the soybean industry to work to ensure that financial liability for soybean products that contain unintended and unapproved traits in soybeans and products be appropriated to the responsible parties.

1.3.37 ASA continues to strongly support free trade agreements as adopted without addendums, and supports adopting future trade agreements without social and political requirements being the basis for acceptance.

1.3.38 ASA recognizes the need for reasonable seed tolerance levels that allow for movement of seed within international trade.  ASA believes that such tolerances, however, must be linked directly with accompanying tolerances for the resulting commodity products.

1.3.39 ASA strongly opposes greenhouse gas restrictions or any other greenhouse gas regulations that would negatively affect the profitability of the U.S. soybean and livestock farmer.


1.4.00 Assistance to Developing Nations
1.4.01 ASA urges U.S. and multilateral institutions to consider long-term environmental consequences and benefits when allocating funds to developing nations for projects that could result in large-scale land clearing or deforestation.  ASA strongly opposes U.S. tax dollars being used by American and multilateral institutions and universities to fund competition for U.S. soybeans and soybean products.

1.4.02 ASA supports U.S. and multilateral development assistance to developing nations aimed at raising per capita disposable income in the developing nations provided such assistance is based on comparative advantage and will not increase the exports of commodities in current or projected surplus supply.

1.4.03 ASA urges the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to continue its policy of not funding programs that promote foreign production resulting in the exports of soybeans and soybean products and would encourage that this policy be extended to crops which compete with soybeans and soybean products.  ASA encourages USAID to increase funding of programs that expand international use of soybeans and soybean products and encourages USAID to support ASA in developing and implementing such programs.

1.4.04 The U.S. soybean farmers recognize that agricultural development in Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) can help drive economic development worldwide.  U.S. soybean farmers stand ready to work with participants in the soybean value chain targeting subsistence farmers to improve nutrition to their community, raise themselves from poverty and develop strong local markets providing such assistance complies with current agricultural policy and law (Bumpers Amendment of 1986).

1.4.05 ASA supports development of nutrition and devastating disease centers at interested land grant institutions for the purpose of linking opportunities and resources related to improving nutrition in populations suffering from diseases of pandemic and epidemic proportions.

1.4.06 ASA supports the Millennium Challenge Account for developing nations, provided that its efforts are consistent with resolutions 1.4.01 through 1.4.03, and that the administration use U.S. food and agricultural products to help meet development and food security targets set for Millennium Challenge beneficiaries.

1.4.07 ASA supports full funding for the Cochran Program.


1.5.00 Developing Countries Debt
1.5.01 ASA encourages the U.S. government to seek a solution to developing countries debt that does not adversely impact the U.S. soybean industry.
ASA feels the solutions for these countries should include:

1.6.00 Government Export Promotion Programs
1.6.01 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (FMD) Program
ASA strongly supports the FMD Program.  FMD is a successful public/private partnership (PPP) which is a cooperative, cost-share program between private industry groups that represent farmers and ranchers and the U.S. Government.  ASA urges Congress to fund the FMD Program at a level of not less than $50 million per year.

1.6.02 Market Access Program (MAP)
ASA supports continuation of MAP at a level of not less than $325 million per year.

1.6.03 Export Credit Guarantee Programs
ASA supports continuation of export credit guarantee programs at a minimum funding level of $4 billion and at the maximum amount necessary to fully utilize the program maintaining the tenor of up to three years. 

1.7.00 Food Aid and International Assistance
1.7.01 The ASA recognizes that the vast majority of the world’s population, and its highest growth rates, are in the developing world. Many of those people suffer from hunger and malnutrition, as well as poverty and low levels of economic development. Food aid plays a critical role in mitigating these conditions; in fact, many of our best export markets were at one time food aid recipients. The ASA and the product we represent, soy, can play a role in strengthening food aid, fortifying diets and achieving the complementary goals of economic development and market growth.

1.7.02 ASA strongly supports uses of food in emergency and development assistance. ASA opposes budgetary reductions in developmental food aid to compensate for emergency shortfalls. ASA supports PL480 programs and total Title II budget at a level of $2 billion.

1.7.03 The Administration should commit to the programming of 5.6 million metric tons of food aid per year as the U.S. contribution to significantly reducing hunger by 2015, for an approximate total of $2.85 billion.  These resources should be principally for long-term development programs, not devoted to short-term food emergencies.

1.7.04 ASA strongly supports all supplemental appropriations bills that will fill in gaps in food assistance and will address the following four points:

1.7.05 ASA supports the continued funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program at no less than $300 million, the Food for Progress program at no less than $200 million and supports seeking additional funding from other U.S. and G-8 sources.

1.7.06 ASA urges the U.S. Government to continue funding for global HIV/AIDS relief as well as incorporating nutrition in its programs.  ASA is committed to work through WISHH on allocating funds and/or food through government food procurement to include soy protein in the diets of people affected by and/or infected with HIV/AIDS.

1.7.07 ASA is committed to developing relationships with commercial entities in the private sector to address HIV/AIDS and under-nutrition.  WISHH will work with U.S. and developing world-based companies to use soy as a supplement to local foods and will reach out to both food processing companies and manufacturing companies with HIV/AIDS programs for their employees abroad.

1.7.08 ASA commends the Administration for its support of biotechnology and U.S. farmers’ access to this important tool.  ASA calls on the USDA and other agencies to minimize the threat of ill-conceived regulations that are hampering trade with the developing countries and even blocking shipments of food aid.  Equally, the Administration should maximize the understanding in the developing countries that biotechnology can help address environmental challenges, augment nutrition and improve food security.

1.7.09 ASA strongly recommends the judicious use of soybeans or soybean products in food aid programs should not be precluded automatically by rigid stocks-to-use ratios.  A minimum level of soybeans and soybean products should always be available for humanitarian assistance.

1.7.10 ASA believes strongly that in-kind food aid remains the most sustainable tool in the food aid toolbox.  Local and regional purchases can be a useful tool for addressing global food insecurity, but they should work in coordination with current food aid programs. In-kind donations should remain intact and funding for local purchases should come from the appropriate foreign assistance budget.

1.7.11 ASA adamantly opposes cash grant humanitarian assistance that replaces in-kind food aid.

II. DOMESTIC ISSUES AND FARM POLICIES

II. DOMESTIC ISSUES AND FARM POLICIES

2.0.00 Preamble
2.0.01 The American Soybean Association (ASA) supports individual freedom and private initiative through the competitive enterprise system.  ASA supports a balanced federal budget.  ASA favors reducing the national debt and believes that spending should be fair and equitable across all sectors of the federal budget.

2.0.02 ASA supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the official governmental voice of agriculture.

2.0.03   ASA recommends that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) farmer elected county committee system be maintained at the county level, be comprised of elected operators/producers and have more authority on decisions at the local level and that county offices be structured to improve efficiency and provide expedient delivery of services to soybean farmers. 

2.0.04 ASA recommends that all food safety, feed safety and environmental regulations concerning agriculture be coordinated with the USDA.

2.0.05 ASA supports the important work of USDA Rural Development to improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunity in Rural America.  ASA encourages the long term funding of the grant, loan, and loan guarantee programs administered by USDA Rural Development.

2.0.06 ASA believes in the need to continue maintaining expanding, and promoting markets for identity preserved and specialty soybeans or soybean products.  ASA also supports premium structures that reflect the additional costs of identity preservation.

2.0.07 ASA believes input benefits and economic impact on farmers and consumers should be considered in laws and regulations designed to protect endangered species.  We favor exempting man-made agricultural structures from the Endangered Species Act.

2.0.08 ASA supports safe food products for domestic and foreign consumers.  ASA understands that a safe food supply is vital to the people of the U.S. and the world.  Therefore, ASA supports the maximum penalty under law on persons or groups found guilty of terrorist acts that could affect the food supply or the environment.  Farmers should be held harmless from liability due to terrorist activities on their operations.

2.0.09 ASA supports the concept of tort reform as it relates to claims against agricultural producers.

2.0.10 ASA urges the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to recognize changing yield trends in soybean production projections.

2.0.11 ASA supports a soy or biobased buying preference for federal, state and local government entities.

2.0.12 ASA recommends farmer representation and participation on all advisory, regulatory and planning boards that affect agriculture at local, state and national levels.

2.0.13 ASA recommends that the Farm Service Agency (FSA) be the primary administrative agency for USDA farm programs.

2.0.14 ASA recommends increased governmental funding to improve the antiquated information technology (IT) system of the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

2.0.15 ASA supports an adequate legal work force for agriculture production and processing.  ASA urges Congress to pursue and quickly implement policies that assure an adequate workforce in all sectors of agriculture, and be implemented in a minimally disruptive way.

2.1.00 Domestic Market Promotion
2.1.01 ASA recognizes the U.S. as the largest single market for soybeans.  ASA places the expansion and maintenance of this market as a high priority.

2.1.02 ASA favors the promotion and use of registered soybean product logos to stimulate consumer awareness, thus encouraging expanded U.S. production, manufacturing and employment.

2.1.03 ASA encourages the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) to work with grain and feed handlers and other industries to use soybean oil to control dust.  ASA urges the insurance industry to consider rate reductions for those using soybean oil dust control systems.

2.1.04 ASA favors expanded promotion and research for new uses of soybeans and soybean products.

2.1.05 ASA opposes the inclusion of soybeans in any national or international strategic grain reserves.


2.2.00 Competition Policy
2.2.01 ASA urges strengthening the enforcement rules of antitrust laws and the Agricultural Fair Practices Act to protect the economic interests of America’s farmers that may be affected by vertical integration and consolidation.

2.2.02 ASA supports the following changes to antitrust statutes and regulations that will further protect the sellers of commodities from anti-competitive behavior:

2.2.03 ASA urges Congress to review antitrust laws that may need to be brought up to date with scientific and business developments due to ongoing consolidations of seed and chemical companies.

2.2.04 ASA opposes mergers or acquisitions that could create a monopoly of production, production inputs and/or marketing of soybeans and products or otherwise reduce competition and/or increase production costs that would lead to lower income opportunities for soybean farmers.

2.2.05 ASA supports enabling trait providers and seed companies to access and use the data package of a patented biotech trait through agreements and established procedures for the purpose of preparing to register and commercialize generic versions of the trait after patent expiration.  ASA supports efforts by the private sector or, if necessary, the federal government that facilitates this process.


2.3.00 Contract Production
2.3.01 ASA recognizes that contract production is a factor in poultry and hogs, and that specialty and designer soybeans will become a larger share of the soybeans we grow.  Therefore, ASA supports:

ASA opposes confidentiality clauses and arbitration as the only remedy in case of a dispute.

2.3.02 ASA advocates production contracts that allow for producers’ liability to end when the first purchaser accepts the product. 

2.3.03 ASA recommends that farmers work together in cooperative ventures to gain increased access in a vertically integrated market environment. 

2.4.00 Soybean Policy
2.4.01 ASA will support a soybean program that:

2.4.02 ASA opposes Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan origination fees.  The CCC should not assess check-off fees on soybeans under loan unless they are forfeited to the CCC.

2.4.03 ASA supports equitable treatment of soybean producers in the development and implementation of federal disaster and low price assistance programs.

2.4.04 ASA is opposed to a uniform national LDP rate.

2.4.05 ASA urges the Administration, the Federal Reserve and Congress to determine and address the detrimental effects of international currency exchange rates on U.S. soybean competitiveness.

2.4.06 ASA supports non-recourse marketing loans.

2.4.07 ASA supports allowing producers who have had county disaster declaration to delete them from their payment yield determinations.

2.4.08 ASA supports amending the restriction on planting fruits and vegetables on program crop base acres to allow producers to preserve base history on acres planted to these crops while not being eligible for direct and counter-cyclical payments, except under the current exemption for double-cropping practices.

2.4.09 ASA supports programs that do not distort planting decisions and which are WTO compliant.

2.4.10 ASA strongly opposes efforts to require producers to lose beneficial interest in their commodities at the time they receive a Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP) or Marketing Loan Gain under the marketing loan program.  ASA also strongly opposes proposals that would discriminate against planting soybeans by exempting crops that compete for acres with soybeans from the required loss of beneficial interest based on how these crops are marketed, or for any other reason.

2.4.11 ASA strongly opposes any efforts to reopen the 2008 Farm Bill. 


2.5.00 Farm Program Payments
2.5.01 ASA opposes limitations which impose means testing on Federal farm payments and loans made to U.S. farmers. ASA opposes restricting eligibility for marketing loan gains or LDP’s.

2.5.02 ASA supports full funding of income support payments provided under farm legislation.

2.5.03 ASA supports fair and equitable price determinations for LDP payments.

2.5.04 ASA supports soybeans grown for non-traditional uses for all payments for which commodity soybeans are eligible.

2.5.05 ASA supports individual eligibility of a producer and spouse for equal program benefits.

2.5.06 ASA supports payment limits as written in the 2008 Farm Bill.

2.5.07 ASA supports the definition of actively engaged in farming in effect under the 2002 Farm Bill.

2.5.08 ASA opposes any efforts to reopen the 2008 Farm Bill. 


2.6.00 USDA Budget Accounting
2.6.01 ASA favors expressing farm program costs as net costs rather than total costs in the federal budget.

2.6.02 ASA supports Congressional review of budget forecasting by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).


2.7.00 Transportation
2.7.01 ASA supports efforts by the Soy Transportation Coalition to address issues affecting the marketing and transport of oilseeds, grains, and their products.

2.7.02 ASA supports directing federal infrastructure funding toward improving commercial transportation, including locks and dams and rural roads and bridges. 


2.7.01 Water
2.7.01.1 ASA urges the Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), other agencies, and private industry to ensure an infrastructure allowing U.S. soybeans to be delivered to domestic and international markets in a timely and cost-effective manner.

2.7.01.2 ASA supports a comprehensive study of current U.S. transportation infrastructure and capacity.  This study should determine if the U.S. has the ability to meet the needs of increased production for export and commercial needs in order for the U.S. to be a more competitive supplier of agricultural commodities.

2.7.01.3 ASA supports maintenance and improvements of the U.S. waterway and navigation systems and that ASA be actively involved with other groups to improve the Mississippi River Waterway System.

2.7.01.4 ASA believes that monies deposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund should be used for new construction and major rehabilitation of navigation infrastructure.

2.7.01.5 ASA urges the Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other responsible agencies to expedite the process of rebuilding and reconstructing flood control structures.  ASA opposes proposed Master Water Control Manuals that would cause seasonal flooding or restricted barge traffic on the nation's waterways.  ASA opposes any diversion of river flows that would adversely impact barge transportation.

2.7.01.6 ASA urges Congress to adopt legislation to minimize dock strikes that interrupt the flow of soybeans and other farm commodities to our overseas customers.

2.7.01.7 ASA supports the appropriation of funding for the design and construction of Locks and Dams 20-25 on the Upper Mississippi and the locks located at Peoria and LaGrange on the Illinois River as authorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

2.7.01.8 ASA supports the further development of West Coast Shipping of Midwest soybeans and soy products.

2.7.01.9 The Jones Act should be amended so as to allow the shipment on the lowest cost vessels of U.S. agricultural commodities from one U.S. port to another.  ASA also supports an exemption for bulk agricultural commodities from the Jones Act.

2.7.01.10 ASA supports the aggressive pursuit of container shipping of soybeans and soybean products.

2.7.01.11 ASA supports the free movement of goods both domestically and internationally.  ASA urges the U.S. government to be vigilant against any undue restrictions by foreign entities.


2.7.02 Railroad
2.7.02.1 ASA supports legislative efforts to promote increased competition in the rail industry to foster better service and lower rates.

2.7.02.2 ASA supports Canada Pacific/DM&E Railroad modernization and expansion projects in the North Central states.  In addition, ASA supports railroad modernization and expansion from other U.S. production areas to Southeastern states, where imported soybeans and soybean products may have a price advantage over domestically grown soybeans because of transportation issues.

2.7.02.3 ASA supports strong state and federal assistance in maintaining low volume rail facilities in rural areas of the country.

2.7.02.4 ASA encourages alternative access for farmers in the event of railroad grade closings during and following railroad development.

2.7.02.5 ASA supports reform of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to address competitiveness issues.


2.7.03 Highways & Roads
2.7.03.1 ASA opposes states or local municipalities enacting lower weight limits on primary roads going through their jurisdiction without providing alternative routes.

2.7.03.2 ASA opposes any new labeling of soy oil that would restrict its current transportation status.


2.8.00 Edible Oil Content Labeling
2.8.01 ASA will cooperate with all interested parties in educating consumers about the health benefits of soybean oil.

2.8.02 ASA supports exempting refined vegetable oil from any domestic or international labeling requirement based on allergenicity or hypersensitivity.

2.8.03 ASA opposes the Food and Drug Administration’s rule that permits a label to contain an optional listing of vegetable oils.  Consumers should be provided with clear information on the type and amount of vegetable oil that the product contains.

2.8.04 ASA supports front of package labeling on processed foods indicating the level of saturated fat content on a per serving basis.


2.9.00 Soy Foods
2.9.01 ASA opposes local, state and federal laws, tariffs and regulations that discriminate against the use of soy oil or protein in foods.

2.9.02 ASA supports the increased use of soy protein in foods and beverages, including foods used in federal nutrition programs.

2.9.03 ASA encourages producers to grow high protein and oil soybean varieties, and encourages purchasers to pay a premium for these varieties.

2.9.04 ASA supports the reimbursable option for fortified soymilk in the federal school lunch and breakfast programs without the requirement of a doctor’s note.

2.9.05 ASA supports full funding of the Quality Incentive Program (QIP) as authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill.


2.10.00 Crop Insurance
2.10.01 The availability of crop insurance should not be tied to specific environmental issues or cultural practices.

2.10.02 ASA supports Crop Insurance Program reform that eliminates inadequacies of the current program for specific crops and regions.  Subsidies should be increased at the higher levels of coverage to ensure that all producers can obtain affordable coverage for 85% of their crop based on actual historical yield.  A more accurate and equitable rating system, responsive to multiyear disasters, and recognition of producer history must be integral components of program reform. Understanding that crop insurance is a valuable risk management tool, ASA supports policy that broadens the base of risk management tools, subsidized or otherwise.  ASA also supports expanded development of Revenue Assurance or Income Protection programs to insure that all producers can manage production and price risk at an affordable cost.

2.10.03 ASA urges the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to establish representative farmer advisory committees at both the federal and state levels to provide input into the process of evaluating and revising farming methods to be included for coverage.

2.10.04 ASA should work towards the following changes being made to the crop insurance program.

2.10.05 ASA supports changing the federal crop insurance regulations so that once a farmer has filed a claim and has provided all necessary information pertaining to the claim, the insurance company should have no more than 30 days to get a claim processed and paid.  After this deadline, the insurance company should be required to pay interest on the outstanding claim until said claim is settled.  Also, while that claim is outstanding, the insurance company cannot charge late fees or interest to the farmer’s account for any outstanding premium due for the crop the claim has been filed on.

2.10.06 ASA supports the use of federal crop insurance records and/or production evidence from three similar surrounding farms as an acceptable form of proving yields for federal farm programs.

2.10.07 ASA supports efforts of states or regions that double-crop soybeans to compile the production and yield data necessary to allow FSA and RMA to adjust final planting dates without penalty on a sound actuarial basis.

2.10.08 ASA supports a crop insurance premium discount for insured acres through the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for recognized crop rotations that decrease pest incidence and efficient nitrogen usage while increasing yield and profitability.

2.10.09 ASA supports keeping the Federal Crop Insurance premiums due date as November 1 of each fiscal year.

2.10.10 ASA opposes cuts to the Federal crop insurance program that reduces agriculture baseline funding for the 2012 Farm Bill.

2.10.11 The ASA strongly urges Risk Management Agency (RMA) and Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to reinstate Group Risk Plan (GRP) and Gross Revenue Insurance Plan (GRIP) policies where they are no longer available.

2.10.12 ASA recognizes that the interaction between a farmer and their crop insurance agent and the amount of service provided by the agent to the farmer exceeds that of other types of insurance.  ASA urges the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to consider this when considering the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA).

2.10.13 ASA requests the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to use a fair and equitable formula based off of actual production history (APH) when establishing a historical yield for specialty beans/output trait soybeans.  These plug yields should be used for years in which specialty soybean history is unavailable.


2.11.00 Equity Protection of Grain
2.11.01 ASA should work with the USDA, other organizations and governmental agencies at the state and federal level to develop adequate protection for farmer's equity in the event of grain warehouse or dealer failure.

2.11.02 ASA opposes any Federal warehouse dealer regulation that would supersede State licensing and warehouse regulations when it would offers less protection for farmers.

2.11.03 ASA supports grain warehouse regulation under which producers are provided a receipt to prove ownership upon delivery of grain, whether the grain is sold immediately or is delivered for storage.


2.12.00 Soybean Trading
2.12.01 ASA should work closely with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the CME Group to ensure that the system works fairly for all traders.  ASA supports the public outcry trading system at the CME Group, but also encourages worldwide electronic trading on commodity exchanges.

2.12.02 ASA opposes a merger of the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the transfer of futures regulation to any agency other than CFTC.

2.12.03 ASA supports the CFTC in its ongoing efforts to implement an instantaneous, verifiable audit system for commodity futures trading.

2.12.04 ASA opposes federal regulation of margin levels for futures contracts and on options contracts.  ASA opposes transaction fees on commodity trading which will inhibit the trading of soybeans and soybean products.   

2.12.05 ASA believes any futures or options transactions that offset a current or anticipated cash commodity position and reduce price or basis risk should be considered a hedging position and not speculating.  Gain or loss from a hedging or option position should be considered by the IRS as ordinary gain or loss for either personal or corporate tax returns.

2.12.06 ASA strongly advocates and proposes a change in tax law to treat call options that are tied to a cash sale the same as a put option with gains taxed as ordinary income and losses 100% deductible in the year they are incurred.


2.13.00 Farm Continuation
2.13.01 ASA encourages more funding and quicker distribution of funds for beginning farmers through the FSA Direct Loan Program, special young farmer loans, Farm Credit Associations and other sources.  The percentage of residence allowance for beginning farmer loans should be raised from 5% to 20%.

2.13.02 ASA supports efforts that would allow proceeds from the sale of qualified farm assets to be treated as an individual farmer retirement account to defer current capital gains taxes to a future date.

2.13.04 ASA supports establishment of an estate tax exemption of $5 million per individual with a 100% spousal exemption, indexed to inflation with continuation of stepped up basis, and with a maximum tax rate of 30% for small businesses.  Special use valuation should include all land staying in production agriculture for minimum of 15 years.

2.13.05 ASA favors implementation of $500,000 in lifetime tax credits for sale of used farm equipment.

2.13.06 ASA supports maintaining the current three-year income averaging programs for agricultural producers, including family farm corporations.

2.13.07 ASA supports an increase in the maximum gift tax exemption and is opposed to the application of the Alternative Minimum Tax on Schedule F.

2.13.08 ASA urges that an individual who rents land or equipment to a family farm corporation, partnership, Limited Liability Corporation or any other farming entity not be subject to self-employment tax on rental income.

2.13.09 ASA supports a change in the U.S. tax code to allow tax deductibility for permanent conservation practices to landowners that cash rent their land.

2.13.10 ASA opposes double taxation when dissolving corporations.

2.13.11 ASA supports the proposed expansion of the tax exclusion on the sale of residences to include up to $500,000 value of farm real estate.

2.13.12 ASA supports a federal tax credit for farmers’ investment in value-added agricultural ventures.  ASA encourages federal support to provide technical assistance to commercialize value-added products as well as business structure assistance for farmer-owned value-added companies.  ASA supports a federal tax credit for farmer’s investment in value-added agricultural processing ventures.

2.13.13 ASA supports extending the time period allowed for reinvestment of capital gains from 45 days to 12 months.

2.13.14 ASA supports modifications of Section 1031 of the U.S. Tax Code to minimize non-agricultural inflation factors on rural land values.

2.13.15 ASA supports the full deductibility of health insurance premiums by the self-employed and supports equitable treatment for self-employed people under any new health care legislation.

2.13.16 ASA supports enactment of Federal legislation that would help to lower the cost of Group Health Insurance plans by allowing participation in the Group regardless of state of residence.

2.13.17 ASA supports that real estate sold must maintain its current tax status when sold to Government entities or nonprofit groups or organizations, exempting religious institutions up to 20 acres, as long as they maintain ownership.


2.14.00 Renewable Fuels
2.14.01 ASA supports the development of educational and information programs that provide information on energy conservation, energy management, renewable resources, environment, and sound science to consumers.

2.14.02 ASA encourages state soybean associations and all biodiesel stakeholders to enhance biodiesel as a renewable fuel and energy source through communications and marketing efforts.

2.14.03 ASA urges state associations to work with state officials to:

2.14.04 ASA supports and endorses the inclusion of soybeans and soybean-based product applications and blends of such products in the development and implementation of any potential alternative and/or renewable fuel policy programs.  ASA only supports the ASTM designation of D6751 as the quality standard for commercial sales of biodiesel.

2.14.05 ASA supports the development of state and federal legislation that promotes biodiesel and biodiesel blends through:

2.14.06 ASA strongly supports policies that encourage all diesel fuel and diesel-powered vehicles to use biodiesel or a biodiesel blend.

2.14.07 ASA favors continued rebate of Federal and State fuel taxes on fuels used in non-highway uses.

2.14.08 ASA encourages petroleum distributors to provide biodiesel blends at all stations across the country to enhance our nation’s energy security, improve our air quality and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

2.14.09 ASA strongly recommends continued national education and research in the use of soy oil and other alternative sources of energy from renewable agricultural products.  ASA supports the Biodiesel Education Program as authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. 

2.14.10 ASA supports elimination of the 50% cap on biodiesel usage for compliance with the Energy Policy Act (EPACT).  ASA also supports banking and trading of biodiesel credits in the EPACT program.

2.14.11 ASA supports and promotes the use of agricultural residues for the production of bio-based methanol for the use in biodiesel production, and the use of local, state and national funding for its promotion and research.

2.14.12 ASA urges that the benefits of the Federal biodiesel tax credit are captured by the end user.

2.14.13 ASA supports the use of biodiesel for electrical generation, industrial and home heating purposes.

2.14.14 ASA supports implementation of the bio-energy program as authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide CCC payments to domestic biodiesel producers on all production to offset feedstock costs and subsidized foreign biodiesel imports.  ASA supports bio-energy program payments to all domestic biodiesel producers regardless of location or ownership.

2.14.15 ASA supports Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) that reflect the expansion of the renewable fuels industry for biodiesel and ethanol.

2.14.16 ASA supports labeling at the fuel pump when biodiesel is at or above 6%, as defined by American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the National Council on Weights and Measures (NCWM). .

2.14.17 ASA supports U.S. production of biodiesel fuel using domestic feed stocks.

2.14.18 ASA encourages the National Biodiesel Board to work aggressively with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) to have engine warranty policy cover the use of biodiesel blends.

2.14.19 ASA recognizes the immense role that agriculture can play in meeting our nation’s energy needs. ASA endorses the goal of securing 25% of the U.S. energy supply from America’s farms, forests and rangeland by the Year 2025.  The benefits to the environment, fuel security and the economic stimulus for rural areas justify the sizable investment in a new energy future.  ASA supports the 25 x 25 initiative.

2.14.20 ASA supports the establishment of national fuel quality testing centers.

2.14.21 ASA supports the development of technologies to produce additional renewable energy products (including but not limited to cellulosic ethanol, soy meal derived ethanol or bio-butanol, and hydrogen from soybean sources).

2.14.22 ASA encourages the development and usage of technologies addressing cold flow properties in the production of soy biodiesel.

2.14.23 ASA supports the use of blender pumps for the distribution of various blends of biodiesel.

2.14.24 ASA supports affordable electricity from renewable resources and non-petroleum sources.

2.14.25 ASA recommends that the economic impacts on production agriculture, including both crops and livestock, must be analyzed prior to any consideration by the EPA of a Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) waiver request.

2.14.26 ASA recognizes and supports the role agriculture can and should play in the U.S. food and fuel security.  ASA believes the bio-fuels industry utilizes co-products from agricultural production to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil as well as lower carbon emission, enabling the U.S. to become more energy independent.

2.14.27 ASA supports the work that the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has done to support practices and promote the use of sustainable feed stocks and biodiesel production methods. 

2.14.28 ASA supports that any policy involving direct and indirect land use metrics be based on multi-disciplinary peer reviewed science and verifiable, transparent data so that biodiesel’s impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is accurately assessed.

2.14.29 ASA strongly encourages the retroactive reinstatement of the federal biodiesel tax credit and encourages Congress to make the tax credit permanent.  ASA supports restructuring the biodiesel tax credit from a blenders credit to a production credit.

2.14.30 ASA encourages the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard II.


2.15.00 Property Rights
2.15.01 ASA endorses private property rights as set forth in the United States Constitution.  ASA believes that farmers should be adequately compensated for loss in property value or income due to unsubstantiated land claims, environmental regulations such as endangered species, wetlands and other government regulations.  We also support a strong “Right to Farm” law.

2.15.02 Government agencies developing flood control projects must ensure that any damages caused by the project to surrounding property owners be fairly compensated.

2.15.03 ASA realizes that production data such as field maps, soil tests, production records, and input records have monetary value.  ASA believes this information gathered by GPS, GIS, or other precision farming practices remain the sole property of the owner and/or operator, or their agent, based on their respective investment.  This information should not be used, released or sold without consent.

2.15.04 ASA opposes condemnation or mandatory restrictions that postpone or restrict the property rights of landowners without just compensation.  ASA opposes the condemnation of land for recreation purposes such as trails, parks, wildlife areas and wetlands, and for purposes of economic development.  ASA also supports a process that provides reasonable advanced warning of right-of-way encroachment. 

2.15.05 ASA supports voluntary and practical programs for buying land development rights in order to preserve the land as green space or for farming.

2.15.06 ASA supports not holding landowners responsible for costs associated with unlawful acts committed by others on a landowner’s property.

2.15.07 ASA supports limiting the use of the power of Eminent Domain.  ASA opposes the use of Eminent Domain for taking wind, mineral, water or solar rights.

2.15.08 ASA opposes use by NRCS of the wetland determination process as a deterrent to improvements to drainage systems, which may produce water quality and crop production benefits.

2.15.09 ASA supports requiring all public entities to maintain their drainage ditches at the proper designed depth.

2.15.10 ASA opposes involuntary annexation by municipalities, and supports restrictions on the ability of municipal governments to encroach or infringe on agricultural land unless the farmer is fairly compensated.

2.15.11 ASA opposes the use of public money for the development of wetlands that contribute to methyl mercury impairments.

2.15.12 ASA supports significant stakeholder involvement in all components of impaired waters and TMDL process.


2.16.00 Financing
2.16.01 ASA supports the participation of all types of lenders to provide businesses with loans or other financial arrangements to add value and find new uses for agricultural commodities.

2.16.02 ASA will support the Farm Credit Service (FCS) as a farmer-owned and controlled financial cooperative to meet the needs of agriculture.

2.16.03 ASA opposes any restructuring of FCS that replaces farmer-elected members of FCS Boards with commercial bankers or expands bank access to FCS funding.

2.16.04 ASA believes the Farm Service Agency (FSA) should have the ability to make direct loans and loan guarantees sufficient to meet producer requirements for operating funds that are not met by other farm lending institutions.

2.16.05 ASA supports adequate funding for FSA credit programs including:

2.16.06 ASA supports a farm financial and production standards system.

2.16.07 ASA supports the USDA farm storage facility loan program with this exception.  ASA recommends to USDA-FSA to establish terms of the loans to be the same regardless of the dollar amount of the loan.


2.17.00 Industrial Uses of Soybeans

2.17.01 ASA supports incentives for the use of bio-based products.  ASA supports expanding USDA’s bio-preferred product list, finalization of the bio-based product label, and an equitable tax credit for bio-based products.

2.17.02 ASA urges private and government agencies to continue to develop, promote and use products made with soybeans, including biodiesel, fuel additives, soy soap stock for dust control, soy ink and soy-based industrial lubricants and all other industrial products.

2.17.03 ASA recommends that government and industry work together to develop the controls necessary to ensure that non-food/non-feed soybeans are kept identity-preserved and segregated from food and feed grade soybeans.


2.18.00 Biotechnology and Nanotechnology
2.18.01 ASA strongly supports biotechnology and nanotechnology and believes the development of biotechnology-enhanced and nanotechnology crop varieties and products will benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.  ASA believes biotechnology and nanotechnology are key tools that will help us meet growing world food, health and energy needs.

2.18.02 ASA strongly supports the development and commercialization in the U.S. marketplace of new biotech soybean products that will enhance the profitability of U.S. soybean farmers, make soybeans a more competitive cropping choice for farmers, and enhance the ability of U.S. soybean farmers to compete in both domestic and international markets.

In the event a biotechnology, nanotechnology or seed company obtains U.S. regulatory clearances but has not made submissions to allow sufficient time for international regulatory clearances in all significant U.S. soy export markets that have biotech approval processes, ASA encourages the biotech and seed companies involved to institute the strict controls necessary to ensure that the whole soybeans and soy products produced from the new biotech product are kept out of commodity soy export as well as planting seed channels until the appropriate international clearances are obtained. In such a circumstance, ASA also supports the biotech and seed companies involved to establish the compliance systems and documentary evidence necessary to show that whole soybeans and soy products produced from the new biotech product have been utilized in the U.S. market.

In the event regulatory clearances have been applied for in a timely manner in significant export markets but clearances have not been obtained due to a non-functioning approval process in a country, ASA will consult with the biotech company involved to determine the best course of action. In making its decision on whether to support the commercialization of the new biotech product despite the lack of regulatory clearance in an export market, ASA will consider the potential benefits of the new biotech product to the profitability and competitiveness of U.S. soybean farmers, the size of the export market in question, and the likelihood of a functioning approval process being implemented and clearances obtained, among other factors.

ASA will actively support and participate in the efforts of biotechnology and seed companies to obtain marketplace acceptance of new biotech products, using both ASA policy and international marketing resources.

2.18.03 ASA supports expansion of controlled identity preserved systems that meet ASA’s Identity Preserved guidelines for internationally unapproved biotech and specialty varieties while continuing to provide customers with the products they desire and support the development, production and promotion of biotech crops that are acceptable to domestic and foreign consumers.

2.18.04 ASA recommends that U.S. farmers have equal access to biotechnology-enhanced products in the world marketplace.

2.18.05 ASA supports mandatory review and approval of all biotechnology-enhanced crops by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and supports policy that assures that proper marketing protocols are developed and implemented so that germplasm or varieties approved for specific, non-generic use do not enter the commodity soybean market.

2.18.06 ASA believes producers should not be held liable for damages resulting from biotechnology-enhanced product use, when recommended practices and procedures are followed.

2.18.07 For those customers who desire them, ASA supports development of a voluntary certification and/or labeling system domestically and internationally for non-biotechnology-enhanced crops and organically grown crops or products.

2.18.08 ASA recommends that life science companies should develop tests that can be used to efficiently detect the presence of a new biotechnology event before that event is commercialized.  ASA supports the development of a review process that will result in standardized tests and methodology for detecting biotechnology-enhanced products within the soy food chain.

2.18.09 ASA believes that regulations governing biotechnology-enhanced products be based on peer-reviewed science.

2.18.10 ASA supports the communication of the benefits and implications of new biotechnology-enhanced soybeans as they enter the marketplace.

2.18.11 ASA believes that identity-preserved (IP) crops are valued-added products and should be included in federal programs for grants, loans, export programs and incentives at USDA and other agencies.

2.18.12 ASA supports an expedited process for approval and acceptance of biotechnology products in the European Union.

2.18.13 ASA supports biotechnology, commercial fertilizer, and commercial crop protection products and believes that any definition of “sustainable agriculture” includes the use of these products.

2.18.14 ASA supports the statutory definition of sustainable agriculture, as included in the 1990 Farm Bill.  Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603.  Under that law, sustainable agriculture means “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
 

2.18.15 ASA also supports full disclosure of all information concerning germination, vigor and quality.

2.18.16 ASA supports developing a progressive definition of agriculture sustainability that encompasses profitable, intensive production and encourages consumer acceptance of biotechnology enhanced products and satisfies food, feed, fiber, and biofuel needs.  

2.18.17 ASA supports establishing a process to maintain foreign registrations of biotech trails in countries that require them as long as traces of a trait are identified in export shipment.

2.18.18 ASA supports efforts to establish a commercially viable and internationally accepted tolerance for the presence of deregistered traits in shipments and products in order to ensure the competitiveness of U.S. soy exports in world markets.


2.19.00 Telecommunications
2.19.01 ASA believes that broadband access to the Internet is important to the quality of life in rural America and to strong and competitive farming operations.  Therefore, we urge the federal, state and local governments to develop programs that will encourage private businesses and cooperatives to bring quality high-speed access to farms at affordable rates.

2.19.02 ASA supports a dependable public Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) differential correction signal available to all producers.

2.19.03 ASA encourages the continued development and expansion of cellular networks to adequately address the needs of rural regions of the United States.


2.20.00 Soybean Rust
2.20.01 ASA strongly urges APHIS to take all appropriate precautions to protect domestic soybean production against the additional spread of soybean rust.  Importation of whole soybeans, soybean meal, and soybean seed from countries with soybean rust infestation must be subject to science-based regulations as determined and implemented by APHIS.

2.20.02 ASA supports increased Federal funding for soybean rust research, including the identification of rust resistance and tolerance traits through genome mapping and data management.

2.20.03 ASA supports the EPA to complete review and to approve Section 18 emergency use requests for fungicides that are effective in treating soybean rust.  ASA encourages crop protection companies and the Federal Government to facilitate the availability of products in the event of need, particularly those deemed effective on soybean rust. 

2.20.04 ASA supports Homeland Security Presidential Directive, HSPD-9 with a stated purpose to establish a national policy to defend U.S. agriculture and food systems against terrorist attacks and major disasters including the spread of soybean rust.

2.20.05 ASA encourages Congress and USDA to support the continuation and permanent funding for Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (PIPE).  This national strategy monitors and communicates the detection and latest information regarding domestic occurrences and treatment of soybean rust including, but not limited to the following issues:
 

2.21.00 Animal/Livestock Agriculture/Aquaculture

2.21.01 ASA supports the continuation and expansion of the livestock industry (meat, poultry and aquaculture) in the U.S. for greater use of U.S. soybean products. ASA will work with these industries to improve the public image on the importance of these foods in a balanced diet.
 
2.21.02 ASA will show strong public support to livestock producers throughout the zoning and permitting process.  Furthermore, ASA will publicly support livestock producers that face challenges by individuals or organizations with an agenda to diminish or eliminate livestock production.

2.21.03 ASA asks consideration that cost share dollars that are available to livestock producers for upgrading livestock facilities be made available to all livestock producers who upgrade, replace or expand their operation to make it an environmentally viable entity.

2.21.04 ASA encourages states to use sound science where an environmental review process is used to evaluate livestock facilities.  ASA also supports that petitioners reside within reasonable proximity of the questioned site.

2.21.05 ASA supports Livestock Premise ID to protect against the loss of soybean demand due to the outbreak of exotic diseases of livestock and poultry.

2.21.06 ASA supports the efforts of the U.S. livestock, poultry and aquaculture industries to vigorously oppose any initiatives that would limit the use of modern and accepted production practices.

2.21.07 ASA supports expansion of the domestic aquaculture industry, including offshore aquaculture, to increase food security, create jobs, and reduce the negative trade balance in aquaculture.  ASA also encourages federal funding for research that would optimize the use of soybean protein and oil in aquaculture feed.

 2.21.08 ASA supports clear, consistent and reasonable science based regulations and processes needed for the livestock industry to remain profitable.  ASA further recognizes the following as science based programs:

And also, any other programs that will “maximize” consumer confidence that are based on sound, scientific analysis and economic feasibility. 

2.21.09 ASA supports the recommendation of the Gulf Coast Fishery Management Council to allow offshore fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico.

2.21.10 ASA will work with our partners to educate consumers that modern animal agriculture production is science-based and provides safeguards for humane treatment of animals.

2.21.11 ASA believes that anyone who trespasses or enters property to release livestock or poultry or to damage property in the attempt to halt, destroy or curtail animal production, serum production or research should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

2.21.12 ASA adamantly opposes efforts by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and other animal rights organizations that attempt to petition or legislate against science tested, modern animal care practices.

2.21.13 ASA adamantly supports changes to current Federal regulations that do not allow the sanitary removal, by rendering companies, of dead livestock determined to be 30 months of age or older.

2.21.14 ASA supports U.S. livestock, aquaculture and poultry organizations that face challenges by individuals or organizations such as the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) with an agenda to diminish or eliminate animal agriculture.


2.22.00 Energy
2.22.01 ASA supports preferential energy allocation for agricultural production and marketing during times of critical energy shortages. 

2.22.02 ASA opposes the sale, transfer or other disposal of the federal power marketing administrations, as well as any regulatory or legislative measures that would increase the costs of electricity or impose other artificial cost burdens onto the rates U.S. farmers must now pay for electrical energy.

2.22.03 ASA is opposed to the concept of an energy tax and/or users fee when agriculture is forced to bear a disproportionate share of these costs. 

2.22.04 ASA supports legislative action to increase domestic production of petroleum and natural gas to help stabilize further dramatic increases in farm input supply prices.

III. RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

3.0.00 Preamble
3.0.01 The American Soybean Association (ASA) is a leader in promoting the research, education and natural resource priorities and needs of the soybean industry.

3.0.02 ASA stresses the need to increase funding for agricultural research and conservation efforts.  ASA supports measures to prohibit sovereign nations or global entities from setting environmental and/or water quality standards more stringent than federal or state regulations.


3.1.00 Research, Extension and Education Priorities
3.1.01 Rapid improvement of yields should be the top priority of soybean research and outreach.

3.1.02 ASA should place major emphasis on research to increase competitiveness of U.S. soybean farmers, expand consumer use of soybean products, reduce production costs; improve profitability of soybean production and position U.S. soybeans and soy products as the preferred source.

3.1.03 ASA believes more research on soybean composition should focus on the enhancement of industrial applications (including biobased energy), health and nutrition benefits, animal nutrition and production for both domestic and foreign customers.

3.1.04 Production research should be directed towards enabling U.S. farmers to be the most efficient and profitable soybean producers in the world.  Production-oriented research should be continued in areas such as:

3.1.05 Genomic and varietal development should emphasize soybean yield and improving market-driven attributes of soybeans.  ASA encourages more research by public and private interests to develop best management practices and economical crop protection products that maximize environmental safeguards.  ASA encourages expanded efforts in market oriented education programs for soybean producers.  Efforts should be made to develop new equipment and innovative techniques which will allow soybeans to continue to be grown economically in an environmentally sound, soil and water conserving manner. 

3.1.06 ASA encourages the development of a standard formula that includes uniform non-stress germination tests, as well as stress tests.

3.1.07 ASA supports full funding for the National Plant Germplasm System of the Agricultural Research Service of USDA. 

3.1.08 ASA demands accurate seed labeling for genetic purity to give producers knowledge of possible biotech seed in a non-biotech variety.

3.1.09 ASA strongly encourages all seed companies to enter their varieties in independent university variety trials. 

3.1.10 ASA supports conventional research & development of soybean varieties that are important to agriculture to provide the biodiversity and a widest availability of varieties & traits.  ASA encourages private and public soybean breeders to continue the development of conventional soybean varieties and to make them available to soybean producers.  Conventional plant breeding and germplasm accessibility must be maintained.

3.1.11 ASA supports the efforts of the National Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR) and state councils intended to promote research funding for food and agriculture initiatives.

3.1.12 ASA recommends increased base funding for USDA’s research programs, Land-Grant University research programs, Extension programs and new funding for other research universities.

3.1.13 ASA supports the protection for the U.S. soybean industry from both bio-terrorism and naturally occurring pests and pathogens by providing adequate funding for the continued efforts by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of USDA.

3.1.14 ASA encourages soybean producers to select seed genetics based on high quality, high yielding protein and oil content.  ASA also encourages soybean seed companies to include estimated protein and oil content on a 13% moisture basis in their sales literature.

3.1.15 ASA urges states to coordinate plans for new utilization research centers through existing national experiment station forums to reduce unnecessary duplication and to maximize results.  ASA urges that these centers establish industry advisory panels to assist in assessing needs, determining priorities and evaluating market potentials.

3.1.16 ASA recommends continued labeling on all soybean seed containers to include the number of seeds per pound.


3.2.00 Research Funding
3.2.01 ASA should continue to lead in coordinating, soliciting, prioritizing and allocating funds for soybean utilization and production research projects.  ASA supports increased public and private research through coordinated efforts and funding by government, commodity organizations, universities and private industry.

3.2.02 Soybean research receives less federal investment than other major row crops; therefore, ASA supports strategic increases in federal investment in USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) programs that will benefit soybean producers.

3.2.03 ASA encourages state-supported soybean research, extension and education programs.  ASA supports regional approaches to research and education programs directed at addressing needs and attaining goals.

3.2.04 ASA encourages state soybean organizations to use technical advisory panels for soybean research proposal evaluation.

3.2.05 ASA encourages USDA and state experiment station administrators to fully staff soybean research projects.

3.2.06 ASA urges that soybean research conducted at public institutions and funded completely or in part with farmer check-off investments be considered as public property and made available for the benefit of U.S. soybean farmers.

3.2.07 ASA recommends the Director of the Oilseed-Fiber Division of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) must remain permanently staffed by a soybean specialist.

3.2.08 ASA encourages public soybean breeders to release new varieties on a non-exclusive basis.

3.2.09 ASA encourages any private or public entity research groups patenting, licensing, or in any other way financially benefiting from soybean check off-funded research, to use the monetary gain to expand soybean production, market development and new uses research.

3.2.10 Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) is an ongoing problem in the soybean growing areas.  ASA supports research into new resistant varieties and genomes, producer education and testing recommendations for SCN.

3.2.11 ASA supports working with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) or individual seed companies to develop guidelines which will allow farmers to continue to plant and propagate conventional soybean varieties that a seed company has patented and no longer offers for sale.

3.2.12 ASA supports QUALISOY to continue to improve commodity soybeans through compositional work. ASA will coordinate and manage all legislative activities with regard to QUALISOY.

3.2.13 ASA supports a coordinated effort of state and national soybean organizations to set priorities and coordinate all federally funded soybean research projects.  Among the factors to be considered in setting priorities are acreage, disease and compositional traits.

3.2.14 ASA supports the efforts of the U.S. Legume Crops Genomic Initiative (USLCGI).  ASA commends the USLCGI coalition for its success in securing funding for functional genomics and bio-information research through USDA’s National Research Institute Initiative.

3.2.15 ASA strongly supports the Department of Energy (DOE) collaboration with USDA that will sequence the soybean genome.  ASA urges these agencies to establish long-lived plant genomic databases capable of responding to technological advances.  This will allow the soybean industry to benefit not only from the sequencing of the soybean genome, but also from translation of information from other sequencing projects.

3.2.16 ASA encourages Federal funding for research that would optimize the use of soy in aquaculture feed and support species development in aquaculture to better utilize soybean protein.

3.2.17 ASA opposes any USDA efforts to impose administrative charges on cooperative research agreements, including farmer check-off funded research projects.

3.2.18 Licensing or royalty agreements should be explored by QSSB and associations when developing research agreements with public and/or private institutions using farmer checkoff funds.

3.2.19 ASA supports federal funding for thorough life-cycle analysis of soybean production and the end uses of soybeans, including livestock and soybeans-to-biodiesel technology. 


3.3.00 Conservation and Natural Resources
3.3.01 ASA strongly encourages farmers to implement conservation plans to bring their highly erodible land into compliance.  ASA endorses the implementation of voluntary conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.  Conservation plans should allow alternative practices to achieve compliance.  Public funding should be available for land altering practices required by conservation plans.

3.3.02 Future requirements for conservation plans should be changed or exceptions allowed (minimum area and width) for erosion control, grass strips, wildlife food plots and other similar measures.  ASA encourages requirements for conservation plans that promote flexibility for soil conservation and water quality practices.

3.3.03 ASA urges the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to recognize the full value of no-tilled, strip-tilled, ridge-tilled, narrow row or solid-seeded soybeans and the use of cover crops in their conservation plan.

3.3.04 ASA supports Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or other national conservation programs for the most fragile and environmentally sensitive lands. ASA supports efforts to ensure that water quality objectives remain a priority under CRP and are reflected in rental contracts.

3.3.05 ASA encourages the Farm Service Agency to enforce the 25% total tillable acres cap on CRP acres per county.

3.3.06 ASA does not support the requirement to reseed established CRP grasses when CRP is reenrolled.

3.3.07 ASA strongly opposes subjecting all Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) payments to Self-Employment Contribution Act (SECA).

3.3.08 ASA supports allowing small, irregularly shaped whole fields into the continuous enrollment CRP program. 

3.3.09 ASA encourages the USDA to maintain the current penalties incurred on CRP acres withdrawn early from the CRP program.

3.3.10 ASA supports research and education on soil and water conservation in the private sector. 

3.3.11 ASA supports full funding of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for both commodity and livestock projects. States and counties should be allowed to choose and administer all soil conservation, water conservation and water quality programs that best meet the needs at the local level.

3.3.12 ASA supports the NRCS as an agency within USDA and urges them to provide adequate funding for field staff and technical assistance.  ASA urges adequate funding for the NRCS to provide locally trained field staff and experienced technical assistance.  ASA also supports using mandatory funding to pay for Technical Service Providers.

3.3.13 ASA believes farmers must have flexibility in improving and maintaining drainage for production purposes.  ASA discourages regulations that limit the most beneficial use of agricultural land.

3.3.14 ASA strongly urges NRCS to allow variances for the implementation of conservation plans in declared disaster counties and on small tracts of land under super-sod busting law.  ASA supports the idea that the super sod-busting provision of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) approved in the 1990 Farm Bill remains farmer friendly.  ASA agrees with the intent of the super sod-busting law on larger tracts of land; however ASA strongly believes that some tolerance or exemptions need to exist.

3.3.15 ASA recommends that all environmental mandates must have incentives for farmer compliance rather than penalties for non-compliance.

3.3.16 ASA supports public policies to maintain a navigable level of water in rivers and inland waterways by preventing the Corps of Engineers from assigning undue importance and priority to interests such as recreation to the detriment of power, municipal water supply, navigation and flood control.  ASA discourages additional land acquisition by government agencies with the purpose of increasing wetlands and recreation without consideration of the impact to inland drainage, navigation and flood control.

3.3.17 ASA believes laws and regulations designed to protect endangered species must be based on sound-science.  ASA supports legislation that would protect producers from unintentional impacts to endangered species.

3.3.18 ASA strongly recommends that whole farm planning remain a voluntary process.  Farm payment or cost share payment should not be dependent on the development of a whole farm plan.  ASA does not support establishment of national standards.

3.3.19 ASA requests that all federal agencies review and justify the use of river gauge data, frequency of inundation and length of inundation to define a true agricultural wetland.  After this review and justification, an emphasis should be placed on assigning an environmental value to said wetlands and allow the scope of normal farming practices to be assigned to that value.

3.3.20 ASA believes that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) should be the lead federal agency responsible for making technical determinations on agricultural lands with respect to wetlands or converted wetlands.  ASA recommends that Federal environmental regulations for farming related activities be administered by the NRCS.

3.3.21 ASA encourages the development of wetland mitigation banks and further, that mitigation is limited to a one-acre for one-acre basis.

3.3.22 ASA supports consistent wetland delineation procedures for all states.

3.3.23 ASA urges farmer representation at the local watershed level whenever policies and regulations are being formulated.

3.3.24 ASA supports producer-led and managed application of Certified Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture (CEMSA) as a framework for producers to improve resource management and address impacts on the environment.  ASA encourages federal and state governments, universities, and private interests to provide support for a pilot project that involves providing goods and services to producers in the application of CEMSA.

3.3.25 ASA supports the Missouri River master plan alternatives that keep navigation and inland drainage on the lower Missouri as top priorities.

3.3.26 ASA supports full funding and implementation of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  Payments should reward producers for good stewardship and conservation practices.  Compensation for conservation practices should not be limited by the size of the producer’s operation.  Consideration should be given to practical conservation farming practices based on soil type and climate conditions.

3.3.27 ASA believes that information a producer provides to the USDA for participation in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) should remain confidential.  Furthermore, farmers who voluntarily submit information to the USDA in order to participate in the CSP should be held harmless for that disclosure.

3.3.28 ASA supports a blind scientific peer review process for all of the white papers that review issues related to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia that were produced by the U.S. EPA Region 4 office in Atlanta.

3.3.29 ASA supports a requirement of using aerial photos from the 1980 to 1990 timeframe for making wetland determinations.

3.3.30 ASA supports refocusing Federal conservation programs back to those that promote the sustainability of soil fertility and productivity, in order to control erosion and maintain soil organic matter levels.

3.3.31 ASA supports holding regulatory agency personnel to the same level of accountability for misrepresenting permit requirements as holders have for meeting permit requirements.

3.3.32 Land dedicated to wildlife habitat should be subject to property taxes.

3.3.33 ASA supports water quality trading involving agricultural processors and farmers, only if, farmers have control over the process; and, only if, the practices to be implanted have been determined through research to actually offset the water quality impairments being considered.

3.3.34 ASA supports policy that requires any information used by USDA, EPA or other agencies to form agriculture nutrient, pesticide and/or climate change regulations to meet the following requirements:

3.4.00 Crop Production Inputs
3.4.01 ASA supports and encourages reasonable efforts to improve crop protection product safety, handling and education.  ASA feels farm and commodity organizations should take leadership on those environmental and food safety issues that affect producers.  ASA supports the efforts of farm organizations to obtain objective scientific research that quantifies the economic impacts of agricultural input restrictions.  ASA encourages the inclusion of agricultural organizations by government, consumer and environmental groups in designing practical solutions to environmental issues. 

ASA supports the use of safe, environmentally friendly containers for agricultural inputs.  ASA supports policies that require Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) in generation of data for crop protection products.  ASA believes that agricultural leaders and environmental advocates need to work together in developing environmental policies and common goals, creating an atmosphere of cooperation. 

3.4.02 ASA recommends that EPA use scientifically valid data and research in making decisions governing crop production inputs and that EPA and other regulatory bodies must consider economic impact statements and risk/benefit analysis before proposing any restriction on inputs or new technology.

3.4.03 ASA supports the expedited approval process for new environmentally friendly crop protection products.

3.4.04 ASA believes that the EPA should grant producers emergency use permits in emergency situations for products already approved by the EPA for other crops.

3.4.05 ASA supports voluntary record keeping for general use crop protection product application and believes that such a practice provides evidence of responsible land and water use.

3.4.06 Local governing bodies should be prohibited from imposing requirements more stringent than federal requirements on the sale or use of federally registered crop protection products or biotech products.  ASA encourages state soybean associations to take an active role in states' development of environmental policy.

3.4.07 ASA favors an international harmonized crop protection product code that conforms to U.S. standards as economic agreements are made with other countries.

3.4.08 ASA endorses the use of voluntary integrated pest management programs and best management practices consistent with sound ecological and economical principles.

3.4.09 ASA supports the complete and detailed labeling of all crop protection products and does not condone the misuse of crop protection products.  ASA recommends that farmers not be liable for environmental damages resulting from input use where recommended label rates and application procedures are followed.

3.4.10 ASA recommends that all imported food products meet USDA crop protection product residue or other food safety standards.

3.4.11 ASA recommends Worker Protection Standard Act (WPSA) be reasonably and rationally implemented.

3.4.12 ASA supports the preservation of crop protection uses to maximize the list of pest management tools available to the grower for best management practices.  ASA supports the use of the “data call in” provisions for the tolerance. 

3.4.13 ASA recognizes that crop protection products are a significant part of the soybean farmers input costs, and that under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), U.S. markets are open to Canadian grain imports.  ASA in the full spirit of NAFTA judges that all Canadian crop protection products that have an equivalent U.S. EPA registered product be given automatic reciprocal EPA registration. 

3.4.14 ASA believes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already gives adequate consideration to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when registering pesticides and additional requirements are not needed.

3.4.15 ASA believes that “common detection” should be redefined in the Pesticide Management Plan based on some level of a scientifically established Health Risk Limit.

3.4.16 ASA supports full disclosure of all information concerning traits, germination, vigor and quality.


3.4.17 ASA requests the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discontinue any further implementation of “chemical specific” or “chemical class specific” use of buffer restrictions on pesticide labeling until the agency establishes protocols to evaluate “drift reduction technology” (DRT) and incorporates DRT language into pesticide labeling.


3.5.00 Water Quality & Usage
3.5.01 ASA recommends that Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) be the responsible agency for coordinating groundwater and surface water programs.

3.5.02 ASA supports the use of peer-reviewed scientific research in developing national water quality standards and educational programs to safeguard groundwater and surface water resources. State and local agricultural agencies should plan and assist in implementing programs and policies based on geographical and geological differences.

3.5.03 ASA recommends that research should be conducted that addresses the source, movement and acceptable levels of crop protection products in surface and groundwater regardless of whether the source is agricultural or non-agricultural.  Based upon scientific research, any environmental recommendations or regulations must take into consideration a cost-benefit analysis to the consumer, producer and positive balance of U.S. trade.

3.5.04 ASA recommends the continuation of research and education programs that would enhance the environmentally sound and economically viable storage and use of agricultural by products and animal manure nutrients.

3.5.05 Cropland erosion and fresh water quality are matters of national concern that call for reevaluation and increased funding of Federal cost-sharing practices such as terracing, strip cropping, grassed waterways, field borders, cover crops and other traditional soil and water management practices.  ASA supports voluntary programs and encourages the adoption of Best Management Practices and believes there must be adequate government compensation for such cost sharing practices.

3.5.06 ASA supports water quality standards that are ecologically and economically attainable.  ASA supports just compensation to the producer when standards are imposed or required other than agronomically optimal management systems.

3.5.07 ASA supports the development and funding of rural drinking water projects.

3.5.08 ASA supports agriculture’s right to use ground water and surface water for production purposes and considers it a priority use.

3.5.09 ASA believes there is a need for research to determine the net effect of phosphorus bound by sediment on surface water quality.

3.5.10 ASA supports voluntary sound-science programs and policies directed on a farm-by-farm basis toward ongoing in-field evaluation of nutrient management methods, which allows producers to continually improve their nutrient management practices.  ASA supports and believes in:

3.5.11 ASA believes all rules and regulations impacting production agriculture should be based on current scientific and peer-reviewed research.  Linkages and citations of data must be a guiding force in developing environmental programs and policy.  Quality assurance provisions must be available for review in order to judge data integrity and utility.

3.5.12 ASA opposes the use and promotion of Point-Non-Point Source Water Quality Pollution credit trading.

3.5.13 ASA supports the requirements that point-point source water quality pollution trading be automatically available to any new point source permit holders that have lower discharge concentrations than existing point sources.

3.5.14 ASA opposes labeling of animal manure as a hazardous waste.

3.5.15 ASA supports requiring environmental groups to be required to bring forth their views and opinions on TMDL/Feed Lot regulations at public hearing as stakeholders as livestock producers are required to do.

3.5.16 ASA supports requiring that a “cause and effect” linkage to water quality be established through field or farm scale research, before federal or state watershed monitoring and demonstration programs are funded. 

3.5.17 ASA opposes removing the word “navigable” from the Federal Clean Water Act or redefining it to include all U.S. waters which would then greatly expand the jurisdictional authority of the federal government to the detriment of farmers and others. 

3.5.18 ASA believes that landowners or farmers should not be held responsible for negative water quality or public health consequences resulting from the establishment of wetlands or wildlife habitat.

3.5.19 ASA supports the proper implementation of the agricultural exemption to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, including the continuation of the normal farming practice exemption.

3.5.20 ASA supports water quality initiatives that are based on peer-reviewed science.  ASA encourages the participating agencies in the Mississippi River Water Shed Nutrient Management Task Force project to continue to fund research and monitoring on the causes of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and their sources, and to submit its research to peer review.

3.5.21 ASA supports a Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Action Plan that is consistent with the scientific studies in the Science Advisory Board Reports; taking into account the strength of the sources and linkages between Nitrogen and Phosphorous discharges into the Gulf. 

3.5.22 ASA believes the Clean Water Act does not authorize EPA’s extension of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements to agricultural lands.  ASA should continue to monitor the development of, and modification of; TMDL standards to ensure that any mandated TMDL requirements would be scientifically sound and economically practical for farmers to implement or farmers are provided compensation for such implementation.  The EPA must be able to cite the specific peer-reviewed scientific research that proves that the impairment threshold is justified.

3.5.23 ASA believes an Agricultural Ecosystem is a legitimate ecosystem and should be preserved and recognized in establishing water quality standards. TMDL discharge standards appropriate for other types of ecosystems should not be imposed on Agricultural Ecosystems.

3.5.24 ASA supports a requirement for consideration of background loading in all TMDL studies, plans, and legislation.

3.5.25 ASA believes that agriculture should not be held responsible for pollution caused by natural conditions when dealing with TMDL legislation, and that all natural loadings be separately identified and properly considered in the TMDL process, and that natural loadings consider climate and ecosystem dynamics.

3.5.26 ASA believes there is a need for research that ensures that climatic effects on flow and sediment loads are properly factored into TMDL studies.

3.5.27 ASA supports a policy requiring that BMP’s (Best Management Practices) which are promoted or required in Conservation and Water Quality programs have input from agricultural professionals, including farm operators and managers.

3.5.28 ASA encourages EPA to work with producers to develop voluntary incentive-based programs that would assist producers in meeting any future water quality objectives.

3.5.29 ASA opposes the establishment, by any unit of government, water quality impairment taxes or fees.

3.5.30 ASA supports a requirement that TMDL allocations be updated when new science indicates the existing allocations are incorrect.

3.5.31 ASA recommends that the Clean Water Act be amended to exempt producers from litigation/liability and not require a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit when producers can certify that the pesticides have been used in a manner that complies with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

3.5.32 ASA opposes any additional permitting process for crop protection product applications and urges EPA to craft any new regulations in a way that is not onerous to farmers.


3.6.00 Air Quality
3.6.01 ASA encourages EPA to work with producers to develop voluntary, incentive-based programs that would assist producers in meeting any current and future air quality standards.  ASA favors air quality standards for agriculture which are ecologically and economically attainable, and that are supported by science-based and peer-reviewed research.  ASA further believes air quality standards for agriculture should be addressed and promulgated at the federal level.

3.6.02 ASA is opposed to any local, state or Federal legislation to regulate particulate matter or odor from agriculture operations.

3.6.03 As an entity that will be significantly impacted, ASA should be engaged in federal legislative regulatory efforts to address Climate Change.

3.6.04 ASA believes that agriculture should not be subject to greenhouse gas emission caps established in Climate Change legislation or regulation.

3.6.05 ASA does not support regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

3.6.07 ASA supports farmers being able to enroll the same tract of land for multiple incentive based payments addressing carbon sequestration, water quality, air quality and any other future environmental credits of benefit to the society as a whole.

3.6.08 ASA supports carbon sequestration research and related efforts to maximize the ancillary benefits of conservation practices that store carbon and other nutrients in soil.

3.6.09 ASA will not support any legislation which attempts to change air quality control standards from EPA control to CARB (California Air Resources Board) control. 

3.6.10 ASA is opposed to the federal government signing or endorsing any global warming treaty or implementing parts of the treaty by Executive Order that would have a negative effect on agriculture. 

3.6.11 ASA strongly opposes any effort by EPA or judicial ruling to regulate dust whether from crop or livestock production as a pollutant.


3.7.00 Intellectual Property Rights
3.7.01 Recognizing the need for research and development to improve the profitability of soybeans for the grower and to create added value traits to address end user needs, ASA supports intellectual property rights of the developers of new traits, domestically and internationally.

3.7.02 ASA supports the Plant Variety Protection Act.  ASA believes this protection is important to encourage investment in research that will keep soybeans as a profitable crop and maintain soybeans as a premium source of oil and protein.

3.7.03 Strong and uniform international intellectual property protection for new soybean technologies is critical to maintain the growth and development of the soybean industry.  ASA will continue to work with the U.S. government, the U.S. seed industry and international organizations to ensure consistent global application of the intellectual property rights for new soybean technologies. 

3.7.04 ASA supports the adoption and use of biotechnology-derived products in farming operations.  ASA discourages producer contracts concerning patented genetic material that may transgress on private property rights without reasonable belief of patent infringement.

3.7.05 ASA supports keeping the soybean genome and protenome research information in the public sector as much as possible.

3.7.06 ASA encourages genetic intellectual property rights to be issued and controlled in the public sector when they are developed by public or soybean check-off funds.

3.7.07 ASA encourages broad integration of technologies with varying seed sources.

3.7.08 ASA encourages the seed production companies to continue offering “genetic technology” post patent.


3.8.00 Education Funding
3.8.01 ASA believes that agricultural education is an important foundation for the future of agriculture and that there is need for a comprehensive school curriculum that will accurately inform and educate K-12 students about the importance of agriculture.   ASA particularly supports the efforts and expansion of 4-H, FFA and the national Ag-in-the-Classroom program and believes that it is important that all groups representing agriculture must be involved.  We also believe that the corporations and companies that are our suppliers and which resell or process commodities also have a vital interest in a favorable public perception of agriculture.

3.8.02 ASA endorses the long range goal for agricultural education and urges ASA members to provide active support for its projects an activities on local, state and national levels that will help create new programs in communities not yet served by agricultural education and FFA and ensure the quality and high performance of current programs providing personal, academic and career education in agriculture.

3.8.03 ASA supports more government, corporate and private education that increases public awareness of the stewardship, economics and risks involved in soybean production.

3.8.04 ASA strongly supports more effort by our land grant university system and all other public and private organizations and entities to increase responsible and accurate educational programs as a way to offset consumer concerns regarding biotechnology, food safety, renewable fuels, crop protection products and animal agriculture.

3.8.05 ASA should work at creating educational materials and opportunities to educate youth on the basics of lobbying for agriculture.

3.8.06 ASA should work with USB to create educational materials and opportunities to educate youth and elected officials on the food chain and life cycle of soybeans.

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL AFFAIRS

4.0.00 Preamble
4.0.01 ASA is a national, not-for-profit, grassroots membership organization that develops and advocates policies to increase the profitability of U.S. soybean farmer members, and the entire soybean industry.  ASA further believes that control must remain with its farmer members.

4.1.00 Membership Statement
4.1.01 Membership is the core of the American Soybean Association.  ASA is made up of affiliated state soybean associations.  These state associations provide the leadership, grassroots support, and guidance to make ASA successful.  In doing this, ASA’s membership generates income for ASA, strengthens ASA’s policy influence and builds future leadership for the organization.

The focus of the membership program is to meet the needs of the members.  The Association should seek direct input from the members, and should communicate directly with them.  ASA places the membership program as one of its top priorities and believes it is vital both to ASA and the state associations to maintain and increase current membership and strive to be a strong membership organization. 

4.1.02 Membership is a state-oriented program developed cooperatively with the national association; therefore, ASA and affiliated state associations should adopt and aggressively pursue membership goals and develop programs, funding, organize volunteers and staff to meet those goals.

4.1.03 ASA Voting Delegates support the following membership goals:

4.1.04 We urge the ASA Membership Committee and staff to aid all states to meet their membership goal.


4.2.00 State Membership
4.2.01 Delegates urge state soybean associations to have active membership committees.  Each state shall plan and conduct membership acquisition, retention, and involvement programs and further establish that membership be a high priority.


4.3.00 Soybean Promotion, and Research Checkoff
4.3.01 ASA supports continuation of the national soybean checkoff and encourages soybean farmers to support continuation of the national checkoff program.  ASA believes that the national soybean checkoff is an important tool to help soybean farmers develop new uses, conduct production research and expand domestic and foreign markets.   

4.3.02 ASA supports the original intent of the Soybean Promotion and Research Checkoff (SPARC).

4.3.03 ASA supports commodity and livestock checkoff programs. 

4.3.04 ASA supports the continuation of a Political Action Committee (PAC) to support issues and individual candidates supportive of ASA policies.

4.3.05 ASA, as the cooperator with USDA-FAS, fully supports USSEC as the international marketing contractor for ASA and USB.

4.3.06 ASA believes it should maintain a shared leadership role with USB in implementing international market development efforts. 

4.3.07 ASA supports ASA and state soybean associations in contracting with USB & QSSB’s and earning a reasonable management fee.  ASA and state associations shall have no restrictions on the use of this fee.

4.3.08 ASA supports policy that would ensure that USB, USSEC, QUALISOY & QSSB’S use ASA and state associations as primary contractors and coordinates for the use in policy of any non-restricted dollars that USB, USSEC, QUALISOY & QSSB’s may generate.

4.3.09 ASA supports USB’s efforts to educate the general public about the positive aspects of production agriculture with particular emphasis on soybeans and allied commodities.

4.3.10 It is recommended that ASA and USB implement the coordination committee as allowable in the SPARC orders.

4.3.11 ASA supports all commodity check-offs and that any and all funds may not be used for any government deficit or general funds needs.


4.4.00 Industry Support and Cooperation
4.4.01 ASA and affiliates appreciate the support they are receiving from their current agribusiness partners and encourage other agricultural allied industries to consider providing financial and in-kind investments in ASA programs as well as participating in ASA’s Agri-Business Council.

4.4.02 Leadership skills are more and more valuable as the industry further expands into global markets.  ASA greatly appreciates all corporate-funded programs that develop leadership and relationships and reach new people in the industry.


4.5.00 Public Affairs
4.5.01 One of the primary member services of ASA should be to provide and implement an effective governmental relations program.  To be a more effective Washington, D.C. voice for U.S. soybean farmers, ASA should continue to build coalitions and develop congressional contacts, as well as be sensitive to both national and/or state concerns as they are addressed by national policy.


4.6.00 General Farm Organizations
4.6.01 Realizing the importance of a united front in the policy area and the need to develop a positive public image of farmers and agriculture, ASA leadership should maintain a continuing dialogue and work with the general farm organizations, commodity groups, urban interests, and others to achieve our policies and objectives.

4.6.02 ASA urges that the ASA and USB Executive Committees meet at least twice annually to develop common goals and evaluate programs to benefit the U.S. soybean producer.

4.6.03 ASA supports efforts by commodity and rural interest groups to reach out to non-ag groups to build positive relationships and improve communication.


4.7.00 Farm Safety
4.7.01 ASA encourages farm families to develop, maintain, and implement an aggressive farm safety education program to help protect our current and future generations and to cooperate with other farm organizations to promote farm safety.


4.8.00 Financial Responsibilities
4.8.01 ASA will operate under the constraints of a balanced budget, unless 75% of the Board of Directors approves a deficit budget.

4.8.02 The ASA Voting Delegate body directs the ASA Executive Committee to examine the 2010 resolutions and formulate a priority list that takes into account available monetary and human resources.  The draft copy shall be submitted to the ASA Board for review, and amendment if necessary, and adoption at the first regularly scheduled ASA board meeting following the Voting Delegate Session.


4.9.00 American Soybean Association & State Affiliates Viability
4.9.01 The ability of soybean associations to successfully impact the issues of importance to soybean farmers is largely determined by the financial strength of these organizations.  As such, maintaining financially viable state and national soybean associations is paramount.  ASA and the state affiliates should pursue innovative fundraising strategies aimed at keeping national and state soybean associations financially strong.

4.9.02 Continued support and work should be maintained to ensure the viability of ASA as a strong national, state-based, farmer membership-based national soybean organization.

4.9.03 Continue to use the name American Soybean Association (ASA) for the national soybean organization for domestic and international policy and American Soybean Association-International Marketing (ASA-IM) or World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) for market development.

4.9.04 Recognizing the vital role of strong affiliate associations in enhancing soybean farmers' profitability, ASA and affiliate associations realize the need to generate more funds from contract, non-dues or industry support, increased membership numbers, and other sources.

5.0.00 AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION – 2010 General Resolutions

5.1.00 The Delegates of this annual meeting give special recognition to the following recruiters and states for extraordinary membership achievement in the 2009 Membership Campaign and to also recognize the top three national recruiters:

ASA further commends all states for participating in the 2009 Membership Campaign and applaud those who met their 2009 membership goal (in green).

5.2.00 ASA also wishes to recognize the cooperation of the City of Anaheim, California as the host-city for the 2010 COMMODITY CLASSIC® and gratefully acknowledges all organizations and individuals that made generous contributions of time, money and hospitality.

5.2.01 ASA looks forward to strengthening its relationship with NCGA, NAWG and NSP through their partnership.

5.2.02 ASA commends the 2010 COMMODITY CLASSIC® committee members from ASA Co-Chair - Dennis Bogaards. Charles Cannatella and Jeff Sollars for a job well done.

5.3.00 ASA commends:

5.4.00 The ASA delegate body commends the domestic and international employees and all affiliated states of the American Soybean Association for a job well done during the year 2010.

5.5.00 ASA recommends that the appointees to all federal commodity checkoff boards be active producers of their commodity.

5.6.00 ASA encourages all soybean farmers to voluntarily be a member of ASA so they better understand how policy and active farmer involvement compliments their checkoff funded successful marketing, research and education efforts for U.S. soybean farmer profitability.

ASA Bylaws