|
FOUNDED 1920
ORGANIZED 1925
INCORPORATED February 28, 1946
Soybean farmers and extension workers founded the Soybean Association
in an effort to promote the crop and increase profit opportunities.
After more than 80 years, the organization continues these important efforts.
Early soybeans presented farmers with
production and marketing challenges. Gold, green, black, brown and
mottled seeds grew on plants ranging from ground hugging vines to
leggy stalks. Plants were difficult to harvest and pods shattered
easily.
The small, uncertain supply made many
processors unwilling to crush the beans. Feed manufacturers and
customers were leery of using the soybean meal and cake in animal
rations.
Through the American Soybean
Association (ASA), early soybean farmers agreed that processors would
underwrite the production of 50,000 acres at a guaranteed minimum
price. With processors guaranteed a supply and farmers assured of a
market, production increased.
1930s: Surpluses of wheat and cotton
made soybeans an attractive cash crop. New processing methods created
more acceptable meal and oil products and demand for edible fats and
oils encouraged research on soybean oil for food uses. Soybean meal
proved to be an important ingredient for balancing animal rations.
Europe began importing American
soybeans and in 1936 the Chicago Board of Trade established a soybean
futures contract.
1940s: U.S. was importing 40 percent
of its fats and oils when supplies were cut off by World War II.
Soybean producers doubled production and processors built plants to
produce the oil. But the end of the war brought surpluses. The US and
United Nations were shipping soy flour to Europe and Asia, but
soybeans were not part of the government food aid plans.
ASA launched legislative battles to
remove barriers restricting the sale of margarine. Government efforts
to reduce soybean production and rigidly restrict exports were
opposed.
1949: US began to turn from being a
net importer of oils, proteins and oilseeds to a net exporter. Soybean
Association leaders traveled at their own expense as technical
advisors on government missions to survey potential markets for US ag
products. They were convinced that Europe and Japan had the plants,
machinery, equipment, know how - and the need - to use American
soybean products in large quantities.
1954: Passage of P.L. 480, Food for
Peace program made it possible for government and private groups to
cooperate in funding market development through the USDA's Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS).
1956: ASA and FAS signed first joint
market development contracts for work in Europe and Japan and ASA's
Tokyo's office opened.
1960s: Soybean stocks became
burdensome as production exceeded usage. High dependency on government
and private industry for research and market development funding led
farmers to initiate farmer-funded checkoff programs.
1964: States began forming soybean
associations affiliated with ASA to involve more farmers. ASA began
funding research to find new uses for soybeans and reduce production
costs.
1968: States affiliated with ASA
resolved to initiate work on state-by-state passage of legislation to
enable first point of sale deduction of one-half to one cent per
bushel. Farmer elected boards of soybean farmers would control funds
for market development and research.
1975: The American Soybean
Association Market Development Foundation was created from the
American Soybean Institute and a funding agency called the American
Association Market Development Fund. The Fund's purpose was to receive
farmer checkoff funds, review market development programs and budgets,
authorize ASA to conduct these activities and pay for services
provided by ASA.
1978: ASA established World
Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
1980: The American Soybean
Association Market Development Foundation and the American Soybean
Research Foundation were merged to become the American Soybean
Development Foundation.
1984: ASA opened an office in Caracas
to serve the South American market. This brought the number of ASA
international offices to 11 including Brussels, Hamburg, Madrid,
Mexico City, Peking, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Vienna.
1987: ASA launched a
truth-in-labeling campaign to stop hidden use of highly saturated
tropical fats in foods and increase market share for soybean oil. ASA
asked the Food and Drug Administration to require food manufacturers
to stop calling tropical fats "vegetable oils" and to put an
end to "and/or" wording on food labels. The
truth-in-labeling campaign was part of a new checkoff-funded
initiative to expand domestic use of soybeans and soybean products.
1988: Exports to the Soviet Union
increased from 2.5 million to 91 million bushels. Palm oil imports
declined as U.S. consumers became more concerned about saturated fats
in their diets, and soybean oil use increased. ASA promotions for
soybean oil for dust control and for newspaper printing inks helped
boost demand.
ASA launched major Targeted Export
Assistance (TEA) promotions in Europe that greatly increased consumer
awareness of soybean oil.
1989: Bold new actions by ASA
farmer-leaders set the organization on a new course. After more than a
year of study and discussion, Delegates approved a resolution to work
toward a national soybean checkoff. Legislation to create the one-half
of one percent checkoff for market promotion, research and industry
education was introduced.
ASA introduced a new SoyMark
developed with funding provided by CIBA-GEIGY Corporation. Earlier in
the year, ASA introduced a SoySeal developed by Monsanto Agricultural
Company to mark industrial products such as soy-based inks and
agricultural chemical carriers made with soybean oil.
1990: Years of ASA market promotion
in Eastern Europe and continuing efforts in the Soviet Union gave US
soybeans an advantage. With the collapse of Communism, Romania turned
to ASA for help in ordering US soybeans. In Western Europe, ASA used
checkoff funds and TEA funds to implement a major consumer education
campaign. European purchases of US soybeans increased 22 percent. A
GATT Dispute Settlement Panel ruled in favor of US soybean farmers
stating that European oilseed subsidies are unfair competition and
illegal under GATT rules. ASA initiated the complaint in 1987. ASA
reached an all-time high of 34,000 members.
1991: The national soybean checkoff
started. The ASA Board authorized, and state checkoff boards funded,
expanded promotion in the Soviet Union including the opening of an
office in Moscow. As authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill, the $5.02
non-recourse soybean marketing loan began.
1992: Activities were funded by the
national soybean checkoff through the United Soybean Board (USB), and
flourished under the direction of ASA farmer-leaders and staff. ASA
created a strategic plan to tackle changes brought about by the
checkoff. ASA opened a new office in Cyprus. Market Promotion Program
(MPP) funds (formerly TEA) were invested to increase demand for US
soybeans and products in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Venezuela
and Mexico.
1993: ASA contracted with Gordley
Associates to provide Washington representation. ASA was successful in
securing elimination of the two percent loan origination fee as a part
of the FY 1994 budget reconciliation process.
ASA worked with the United Soybean
Board to structure and carry out national soybean checkoff-supported
programs in the US and around the world. ASA became heavily involved
with SoyDiesel on the legislative, research and development levels.
ASA continued as the primary
contractor with the United Soybean Board and a major cooperator with
FAS on international programs. The ASA Board of Directors voted to
offer health insurance to members in participating states. ASA
unveiled a new logo at Soybean EXPO '93 in Denver.
ASA expressed concern and
disappointment over the resolution of the oilseed subsidy dispute with
the European Community (301 case). The resulting Blair House Agreement
limited the maximum area on which payments will be made to stimulate
surplus oilseed production in the EC. ASA subsequently helped develop
and rally support for a "zero-to-zero" proposal to eliminate
global tariffs and government export incentives for oilseeds and
products.
1994: ASA was instrumental in forming
the American Oilseed Coalition (AOC. ASA withheld endorsement of the
Uruguay Round agreement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,
because the agreement, failed to correct conditions that have proven
detrimental to interests of US soybean growers and allows continuation
of unfair practices of other countries in oilseed trade. ASA commended
the Administration for identifying elimination of trade distorting
practice in the oilseeds sector as a priority in future multilateral
and bilateral trade negotiations.
The referendum to continue the
national checkoff was held in February and passed - with 54% of the
farmers who cast their ballots voting in favor of continuation.
Congress approved the Vegetable Ink
Printing Act that requires the federal government to use
vegetable-based inks in its printing operations where technically
feasible and cost-competitive with petroleum-based inks. This comes on
the heels of the USDA announcement last year that required all
printing ordered by USDA to employ ink derived from agricultural
products.
1995: ASA and USB leaders went to
Europe to ensure compliance with the Blair House Agreement. ASA and
the National Oilseed Processors Association continued to work closely
with the US Trade Ambassador throughout the year. ASA and USB leaders
went to China to meet with senior government and trade officials to
provide encouragement to import US soybeans and soybean meal.
• ASA leaders conveyed their
support for inclusion of biodiesel in the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
ASA leaders urged lawmakers to enact Farm Bill legislation designed to
make soybeans more competitive and soybean producers more profitable.
ASA also led successful efforts to restore funding for the Foreign
Market Development (FMD) cooperator program, and to enact legislation
that differentiated agricultural oils from petroleum oils.
• Reversing several years of
declining membership, the ASA recruitment campaign delivered a net
membership increase of four percent. In December, the ASA Board
adopted a new committee structure to more closely align itself with
the structure of USB's committees.
• The Stephen M. Yoder Foundation
"Leadership for LIFE" program was established to promote
farm safety. ASA celebrated its 75th Anniversary at the Soybean EXPO
in Saint Louis.
• ASA, USB and many other soybean
industry stakeholders participated in the development and distribution
of the Soybean Industry Vision. ASA was instrumental in launching the
American Soybean Industry Council.
1996: ASA maintained a consistent and
reasoned position on its policy objectives for the Farm Bill that
included full two-way planting flexibility, an equitable soybean loan
rate and an adequate safety net. ASA also continued its efforts to
reform the estate tax code and obtain conservation provisions that
reflect a common sense balance of producer interests and protection of
natural resources and wildlife.
• ASA prevented an amendment to
require a producer referendum on the soybean checkoff program in 1999
from being included in the Farm Bill.
• ASA joined the National Biodiesel
Board and other interested organizations in filing a petition with the
Department of Energy (DOE) requesting approval of B20 as an
alternative fuel.
• At year-end ASA membership count
was 29,799 — an increase of more than 5% over 1995.
• The first-ever Commodity Classic
was hosted by ASA and the National Corn Growers Association in
Phoenix, Arizona. Nearly $20,000 was raised to benefit The Stephen M.
Yoder Foundation's Leadership for LIFE program.
• ASA and the U.S. Feed Grains
Council jointly contracted for representation in Vietnam. ASA also
opened its Asia Subcontinent Office in New Delhi, India.
• The American Soybean Industry
Council (ASIC), issued statements on the global acceptance of
biotechnology and on the protection of intellectual properties.
• ASA issued Grower Advisories
pertaining to import clearances for soybeans grown from genetically
modified seedstock in major export markets.
1997: ASA was successful in gaining
expansion of the Crop Revenue Coverage (CRC) program into 12
additional states for the 1998 crop year, which doubled the number of
states eligible for CRC. ASA worked behind the scenes on enactment of
tax legislation that included elimination of the alternative minimum
tax; incoming averaging provisions; a reduction in the capital gains
tax rates; new estate tax exclusions; and an increase in the
percentage of health insurance costs deductible by self-employed
persons.
• ASA and the National Biodiesel
Board (NBB) obtained Department of Energy agreement to consider B-20
(a blend of 20 percent biodiesel made from vegetable oil and 80
percent petroleum diesel) as an approved alternative fuel.
• ASA implemented an aggressive
international marketing program for US soybean producers. ASA wisely
leveraged the almost $16 million in soybean checkoff funds to obtain
another $9.4 million from USDA. ASA increased the size of its
membership for the third year in a row. The final total was 31,525, an
increase of 5.6 percent from the previous year. The ASA Today
membership newsletter was redesigned into a full-color format.
• ASA ended FY 97 with a financial
gain from operations that exceeded the forecast. This was a reversal
of the losses experienced by the Association in recent years, and was
the result of a coordinated effort by ASA leaders, ASA staff, state
affiliates, and other stakeholders.
1998: ASA opened a new chapter for
soybean producers this year when Congress enacted legislation that
allows vehicle fleets regulated under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to
earn credits toward meeting EPACT requirements by operating on B-20.
This legislation is significant because it provides credits for the
use of biodiesel fuel that can be made from soybean oil, and it
provides biodiesel blends that offer consumers the economics necessary
to make B-20 the "low cost leader" in the EPACT market.
Biodiesel has been one of ASA's top priorities for several years.
• ASA issued Grower Advisories
pertaining to import clearances for soybeans grown from genetically
modified seedstock in major export markets.
• A $6 billion ag assistance
package was enacted that included $2.575 billion in total funding to
address crop disaster losses, and another $3.15 billion in market loss
payments to producers eligible for Freedom to Farm contracts. Also,
ASA successfully urged Congress to approve income averaging, increased
deductibility of health insurance for farmers, and a 5-year carryback
for operating losses. The approved tax cuts are estimated to save
producers more than $1 billion over the next five years.
• ASA worked diligently to ensure
that Ag appropriators approved funding for the Foreign Market
Development Cooperator Program at the current operating level of $32
million and $90 million for the Market Access Program. ASA utilizes
funding from the FMD and MAP, along with producer checkoff dollars, to
promote U.S. soybean exports in more than 80 counties.
• Funding was secured for the
International Monetary Fund at $17.9 billion. IMF funding is vital to
ensuring stability in U.S. Soybean export markets in both the short
and long-term. ASA also succeeded in convincing USDA to include half a
million tons of soy in a Russian Food Aid Program and another $61
million of soybeans and soy products in other P.L. 480 Title 1
programs.
• Early this year, ASA participated
in the White House Rose Garden ceremony, during which President Bill
Clinton signed into law the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act. This legislation was one of ASA's top priorities
because it approved funding for increased agricultural research funds,
as well as crop insurance. Agricultural research is slated to receive
$600 million over five years, and it authorized $485 million over five
years to pay insurance agents and companies for expenses to write crop
insurance policies.
• On Nov. 10, the Food and Drug
Administration gave initial approval to allow health claim labels on
products containing soybean protein based on data contained in a
petition presented by Protein Technologies International, Inc., and a
follow-up petition filed by ASA in October. Approval by FDA of
evidence that including soy protein in a healthy diet reduces serum
cholesterol and may reduce the chance of heart disease will have
consumers around the world seeking foods labeled to contain soy
protein. A final rule was expected in 1999.
• In November, ASA formally opened
its 14th international marketing office in Istanbul, Turkey, to
increase demand for U.S. soybeans and products in the Middle East.
• ASA took the lead in working with
biotechnology and seed companies to ensure that U.S. growers didn't
lose $9 billion of U.S. Soybean export markets due to the presence of
unapproved biotechnology-derived soybean varieties.
• To help maintain U.S. soy exports
despite Asia's economic crisis, ASA worked to obtain and increase
credit guarantees from USDA for the purchase of soybeans and soy
products. In part due to ASA's aggressive initiative, USDA approved
additional GSM-102 export credit guarantees for Asia including
increases from $250 million to $400 million for Indonesia, $100
million to $300 million for Thailand, and zero to $100 million for
Malaysia. In addition, Korea received an estimated $1.1 billion, an
increase from $154 million from the previous year.
• The Loan Deficiency Payment (LDP)
rate was increased by 34 cents as result of ASA's policy efforts
during the 1996 Farm Bill process. LDPs were based on a $5.26 per
bushel loan rate.
• ASA increased its membership for
the fourth consecutive year, ending the year at 31,737 members. Even
more was added to the value of an ASA membership with the launch of
the first issue of the Washington Insider Report. This new
publication, distributed quarterly to all ASA members, focuses on key
policy issues facing soybean farmers. To help ensure continuation of
the national soybean checkoff, ASA created a special Vote YES
committee to develop funding and prepare for the possibility of a
producer referendum.
• There was a record attendance of
producers and exhibitors at Commodity Classic in Long Beach, making
the third annual event a huge success. Show attendance reached 3,676
and more than 500 trade show booths were sold. More than $23,000 was
raised for safety education through the 1998 Stephen M. Yoder
Foundation Auction and from associated raffles.
1999: The American Soybean
Association applauded approval by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) of a new soy health claim based on a petition
filed by ASA in 1998. FDA published its final rule on October 25, that
soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol
may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood
cholesterol levels. As a result, food labels may now contain messages,
such as "25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in
saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart
disease." Research funded by the soybean checkoff shows that the
use of soybeans in food products will increase at a rate of 10% a year
for the next five years, up from about 37 million bushels to more than
60 million bushels.
• Biodiesel implementation moved a
big step forward with the release of the Department of Energy's
interim final rule to allow public vehicle fleets to earn EPACT
credits. ASA also was pleased with USDA's August 13, announcement that
the agency planned to purchase an unprecedented level of 20,000
gallons of biodiesel during the year, and with pro-biodiesel
legislation that was introduced in the Senate on November 17. That
legislation, entitled the "Biofuels Air Quality Act" would
allow biodiesel to compete for funds in the Congestion Mitigation Air
Quaility Improvement (CMAQ) program. Similar legislation was
introduced in the House on August 6. The Senate and House bills expand
the CMAQ program's authority to allow funding of alternative fuel
projects that include purchases of biodiesel, which is a proven
cleaner-burning fuel made from natural, renewable sources, such as
soybean oil. ASA also asked that the government introduce biodiesel-blended fuels in at least 50% of the government's
diesel-powered vehicles by 2002.
• While drought and flood
conditions in several areas of the country prevented another
record-breaking U.S. soybean harvest, producers continued to face the
lowest prices paid for their soybeans since the early 1970s. Three
ideal growing seasons, one right after the other, in the majority of
soybean production areas in both the United States and in South
America, caused soybean stocks to grow, while at the same time, export
growth stalled as a result of depressed economies in key Asian
markets. These factors were primarily responsible for drifting soybean
prices paid to farmer down from an average per bushel price of $7.35
in 1996, to $4.35 in 1999.
• Fortunately, ASA's soybean safety
net policy work during the 1996 Farm Bill process helped see many
producers through a tough year. ASA's success in raising the soybean
loan rate $.34 would provide growers with nearly $1 billion of
additional farm revenue from the loan deficiency payment program.
• Even with ASA's earlier policy
efforts and successes, it was clear that stronger and more
comprehensive efforts would be needed to improve the outlook for
soybean producers. In February, ASA farmer leaders made public a
comprehensive list of farm income and market demand policy initiatives
for the Administration and Congress to act upon. ASA's proposal
included economic loss assistance, farm income protection, food
assistance and export initiatives, biodiesel, and trade policy
initiatives. Also included were key domestic policy initiatives
concerning the Food Quality Protection Act implementation, the
environment and conservation, research, transportation and tax
initiatives. ASA also outlined major issues for changes in Federal
crop insurance programs.
• ASA urged Congress to provide
economic loss payments to producers, similar to payments provided to
farmers in 1998, and also advanced with congressional leaders
inclusion of soybean-specific payments and provisions in any farm aid
package. Subsequently, Congress did approve an $8.7 billion emergency
farm spending plan that also included an authorization of $475 million
in direct payments to oilseed producers to help partially offset low
prices. It was estimated that this oilseed payment would provide
producers with 15 additional cents per bushel of soybeans.
• In April, ASA and the National
Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) provided Secretary of
Agriculture Dan Glickman with a comprehensive list of recipient
countries, quantities, and products for a proposed $1 billion
concessional sale and donation program for soybeans, soybean meal,
soybean oil, and soy protein products. Secretary Glickman requested
this list during a March 16 meeting with ASA leaders in Washington
when ASA urged him to utilize Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds
for a purchase and donation program that could help alleviate a
disastrous decline in prices and soybean producer income.
• ASA also initiated, for the first
time, discussions with a group of international food aid groups who
were interested in programming soy into their USDA requests. These
private voluntary organizations (PVOs) provided concrete proposals to
USDA for the implementation of food aid. This combination of ASA's
"pushing" and the PVOs "pulling" helped convince
USDA of the merits of assisting people in the most needy countries in
the world while bolstering demand and improving prices paid to
farmers.
• To urge further action on ASA's
request for a $1 billion soy donation, 72 House members cosigned a
letter to Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman in November, calling
for USDA to move quickly to mitigate the downward pressure on soybean
prices during harvest. ASA also met with several Senators and
Representatives to urge them to place calls to the White House,
Agriculture Department, and Office of Management and Budge to
"dislodge" this and other food aid programs which have been
held up pending reviews.
• At year's end, ASA was still
waiting for a major food aid announcement, which was being delayed by
bureaucratic red tape. Meanwhile, some significant amounts of soy were
already being included in major food aid programs, such as the
purchase by Russia of an additional 117,000 metric tons of soymeal
under the P.L. 480, Title I program for shipment December 17, 1999 to
January 7, 2000.
• On November 15, U.S. and Chinese
negotiators completed bilateral talks on China's accession to the
World Trade Organization (WTO). The agreement that U.S. trade
negotiators reached with China included significant opportunities to
expand market access that ASA has worked toward for years. According
to U.S. government sources, the ongoing WTO accession negotiations
include assurances that will formalize access to the Chinese market --
the largest growth market for soy in the 21st century -- and includes
commitments to expand access over the next few years.
• Based on the announced WTO
Accession Terms for Agriculture, there will be no tariff rate quota (TRQ)
for soybeans, and the duty is bound at the current applied level of
3%. The agreement stated that soybean oil will be subject to a 9% duty
and the TRQ quantity will be based on average 1995-97 calendar year
imports calculated on the basis of data from Oil World. Soybean oil
also will be designated a "most-favored-oil" -- meaning that
any permanent or temporary duty reduction provided to other oils also
will be extended to soy oil. ASA also began an extension policy effort
in 1999 to promote approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR)
with China, which the U.S. Congress was scheduled to debate in 2000.
• ASA counted among its
accomplishments the lifting of sanctions on the sale of U.S. food to
Iran, Sudan and Libya. ASA continued to work to expand sanctions
relief to Iraq, North Korea, and Cuba to help improve soybean producer
profitability.
• Confusion about the marketability
of biotech-derived crops was at the forefront of many producers'
thoughts. During these challenging times, ASA called upon all of its
resources to actively communicate with growers, customers and other
stakeholders about the safety of biotech soybeans to minimize the
negative effects of activities and efforts to undermine public
confidence in agricultural biotechnology.
• In November and December, ASA
implemented a series of "Planting Decision 2000" Town Hall meetings
around the country to help producers make well-informed planting
decisions for 2000. ASA also produced "Planting Decision Guide" that
provided producers accurate information on the factors affecting the
demand for both biotech and non-biotech soybeans. ASA distributed the
Planting Decision Guide to more than a quarter million soybean
producers.
• Early in the year, ASA welcomed
the announcement that AgrEvo USA Company would delay commercialization
of their LibertyLink® Soybean seed to safeguard acceptance of U.S.
soybeans and soybean products in major export markets. ASA and AgrEvo
have been engaged in discussions for months on how best to keep
LibertyLink® Soybeans out of export channels until approvals for
importation and processing were obtained in major export markets.
AgrEvo's decision demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting
export markets for U.S. soybean producers.
• In March, ASA expressed support
for the National Soybean Checkoff Program before the USDA's Joint Task
Force on Research & Promotion Programs. Checkoff programs are a
vital means for farmers to invest their own money in strengthening
market demand, improving productivity, and increasing profitability.
One-half of 1% of the delivered price is deducted for the checkoff
when farmers sell their soybeans. As the trade association that first
supported, developed and lobbied for the soybean checkoff program, ASA
expressed support for the original design and mechanics of the soybean
checkoff and urged the Department not to create unnecessary or
burdensome guidelines or procedures that will impede the effectiveness
of the soybean checkoff program. As required by law, USDA conducted a
request for referendum October 20 through November 16, 1999, and the
results will be announced in 2000.
• Albuquerque, New Mexico drew a
crowd of 3,504 farmers, farmer-leaders and speakers, including 101
farm broadcasters and ag journalists, for the fourth annual Commodity
Classic. Altogether, 592 booths displayed products and services of 142
companies. Trade show goers were also able to participate in
educational sessions, which include such topics as New Uses for
Soybeans and How Women Can Make Better Marketers. The show
was a success and the turnout reflected that people are optimistic.
This was a great opportunity for leaders to visit with agribusiness
companies.
2001: Nearly $1 billion of
additional safety net became available to U.S. soybean
producers as USDA announced the loan rate for 2001 crop
soybeans was set at $5.26 per bushel. ASA and producer members
had been working in Washington for many months to urge USDA to
maintain the soybean loan rate at $5.26 to help farmers and
rural communities survive a continuing cycle of historically
low commodity prices. In February, USDA announced details of
an Oilseed Payment Program that ASA again successfully urged
Congress to include in emergency farm legislation. At a
payment rate of $0.1425 per bushel of soybeans, a farm with
500 acres of soybeans and a 42 bushel per acre yield received
about $2,992.00 from this program.
• ASA competed successfully
for $7.6 million in federal funding under the Foreign Market
Development (FMD) program and $2.6 million under the Market
Access Program (MAP), a combined total of over $10
million—$100,000 more than last year. ASA utilizes these
funds, along with producer checkoff dollars, to promote
exports of U.S. soybeans and products.
• U.S. soy exports again set
record sales volumes for 2000/01 with whole soybean exports
reaching just over 1 billion bushels (27.567 million metric
tons), up more than 2 percent from the record set last year.
Soybean meal exports climbed to over 6.5 million metric tons (mmt),
up nearly 7 percent from last year. The European Union
remained the largest regional market for U.S. soybean exports
at 6.9 mmt, with China the largest single country customer at
5.7 mmt, and Mexico close behind at 3.9 mmt, followed by Japan
at 3.5 mmt.
• One key milestone critical
to increasing demand for U.S. soy products was passed when 142
nations belonging to the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed
to launch a new round of negotiations designed to spur income
growth by substantially decreasing market access barriers and
trade distorting subsidies. Another key milestone was passed
when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to grant the
President Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), previously called
"fast track." ASA worked for years to secure passage of both
milestones because the future of U.S. soybean producers
depends greatly on the ability of the U.S. to negotiate trade
agreements.
• An historic event took
place at the end of the year with a resumption of commercial
agricultural sales to Cuba. After more than 40 years, and a
great deal of legislative effort by ASA to reform economic
sanctions on food and medicine, U.S. soy products once again
shipped to Cuba under a special one-year license. Cuba
purchased from the U.S. 12,000 tons of soybeans, 20,000 tons
of soymeal, and 5,000 tons of soyoil.
• ASA was extremely active in
developing and putting forth soybean farmer priorities for a
new farm bill. ASA supported domestic farm programs that are
equitable and balanced among all loan-eligible crops that can
be planted on the same cropland on a farm. ASA supported full
and unrestricted planting flexibility, continuation of
non-recourse marketing loans, no statutory authority to impose
set-asides, and no authority to establish government or
farmer-owned reserves for oilseeds. In addition, ASA opposed
any limitations on marketing loan benefits, fixed income
payments, or any counter-cyclical income support payments.
• With major energy
legislation moving through Congress, soybean farmers had a
unique opportunity to create additional domestic demand for
their product through increased use of biodiesel. ASA worked
on legislation for the "Renewable Fuels for Energy Security
Act of 2001," that set a federal goal for increased national
use of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. ASA
also is working on legislation that would provide a tax
incentive for biodiesel.
• After years of just trying
to preserve and restore the cuts proposed to the Federal
soybean research funding baseline, ASA launched an effort to
increase soybean research funding by $10 million over three
years. For FY2001, ASA successfully lobbied to increase
soybean research funding by $3.2 million. For FY2002, ASA was
successful in garnering an additional $3.34 million, as well
as a portion of another $750,000 that will be designated for
clinical nutrition studies on soy.
• At a press conference in
St. Louis, the new World Initiative for Soy in Human Health
(WISHH) program was formally announced. This program is
designed to promote the use of soy products in food aid
programs worldwide. Funded with producer checkoff dollars, ASA
has launched this multi-faceted program to create short and
long-term growth for soy markets without disrupting commercial
sales.
• The sixth annual Commodity
Classic in San Antonio, Texas, set a record for total
attendance at 3,945, including 124 media. Of the grower
attendees, the average age was 51.5, with an average total
acres of 1,744. The average soybean acreage was 738 and
average corn acreage was 750. Growers attended the many
educational seminars and visited the trade show with 636
booths representing 190 companies.
• ASA announced the new
Conservation Legacy Awards that will recognize the
environmental contributions of soybean farmers around the
nation. This award will allow the soybean industry to
recognize those farmers who are voluntarily taking action to
conserve our land for future generations.
• ASA presented the first
annual Soybean Leadership College with about 75 participants.
Classes were conducted on topics such as new uses, future of
the soybean industry, media training, conducting meetings,
public speaking, legal basics, effective committees,
developing issues programs, and soybean research. There were
also several marketing classes that addressed international
and domestic marketing as well as the realities of marketing
biotech crops.
• In November, ASA released
the findings of its first-ever Conservation Tillage Study,
which shows how the availability of soybean seeds enhanced
through biotechnology has allowed and encouraged farmers to
implement reduced tillage practices that protect farmland from
wind and rain erosion. The study shows that 73 percent of the
growers are now leaving more crop residue on the soil surface
than they did in 1996, when biotech-derived soybeans became
available for commercial planting. ASA estimates that no-till
and reduced-till farming is now the preferred planting method
on more than 80 percent of all the soybean acres in this
country. Reduced tillage practices in soybeans saved 247
million tons of irreplaceable topsoil in 2000, and reduced the
number of times a farmer had to run equipment over the field,
saving 234 million gallons of fuel.
2002: Under the 2002 Farm
Bill, ASA lobbied successfully for soybeans to be treated as a
program crop, eligible for benefits under the direct payment
and target price income support programs as well as under the
marketing loan program. Income support for soybeans includes a
$5.00/bushel marketing loan, a $0.44/bu. direct payment, and a
$5.80/bu. target price. Based on 85 percent of eligible base
acres and on payment yields, the effective level of income
support for soybeans is $5.59/bu. compared to $5.26/bu. under
the FAIR Act of 1996. Funding was also increased for export
promotion programs, food aid programs, and conservation
programs.
• The new Farm Bill also
created, for the first time, an energy title that extends the
Commodity Credit Corporation Bioenergy program for fuel
producers who purchase agricultural commodities, such as
soybeans, for the purpose of expanding production of biodiesel
and ethanol. The program was funded at $204 million, and also
provides $5 million ($1 million per year for 5 years) for a
biodiesel education grant program.
• On August 6, President
George W. Bush signed into law Trade Promotion Authority
legislation that ASA has held at the top of its policy agenda
for nearly five years. TPA gives the President the ability to
negotiate trade agreements that are beneficial to U.S.
interests, and then present the agreements to Congress for
approval or rejection. More than half the value of the U.S.
soybean crop was exported in 2002.
• Following a great deal of
work by ASA and state affiliates, the U.S. Senate approved the
Comprehensive Energy Bill. The measure, approved by a vote of
88-11, contained several ASA-sponsored provisions that would
benefit U.S. soybean growers by increasing the use of
biodiesel fuel. The bill created a tax incentive for
biodiesel. Under its terms, blenders of biodiesel would
receive a 1-cent reduction in the diesel excise tax for every
percentage of biodiesel blended with conventional diesel up to
20 percent. The bill also contained a 5 billion gallon
renewable fuels standard, of which biodiesel would be an
eligible fuel, would allow government fleets to use more
biodiesel to meet current energy requirements, and required
federal government fleets to use biodiesel and ethanol when
they are cost competitive.
• Then in June, the House
introduced H.R. 4843, which created a tax incentive for
biodiesel. The bill also provided a 1-cent reduction in the
diesel fuel excise tax for each percentage of diesel fuel that
is blended with biodiesel up to 20 percent, and provided for
the reimbursement of the Highway Trust Fund by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation.
Although H.R. 4843 was a freestanding bill, the aim was to
have its provisions included in the final Energy Bill.
Although ASA succeeded in having a biodiesel tax incentive
included in the Senate Energy bill, Congress adjourned without
agreeing on a final energy bill. Thus, pursuit of incentives
to expand use of biodiesel was pushed to the top of ASA's
priority list for 2003.
• ASA also testified on
Capitol Hill about the importance to soybean farmers of an
efficient inland waterway system and the critical need for
modernization of locks and dams and guide wall extensions on
the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. ASA also produced
an educational video titled, "Double-Locking" Aboard the
Ardyce Randall at Lock 20, which premiered at the Midwest Area
River Coalition 2000 annual meeting, and was later mailed to
every member of the United States Congress.
• ASA worked with the White
House, the U.S. Trade Representative, and USDA to resolve an
issue that stopped export contracting to China. As a result of
discussions between President Bush and Chinese President Jiang
a compromise was reached. The agreement involved the issuance
of temporary safety certificates based on safety certificates
issued in the exporting country, a solution put forth by ASA.
The Chinese also agreed to speed up and simplify the approval
process for the applications for safety certificates.
Unfortunately, one million tons or more of U.S. soybean
shipments were lost or cancelled before the compromise was
reached.
• Despite the lost
opportunities in China, ASA's international marketing programs
supported another record year for U.S. soybean exports with
shipments of 29.9 million metric tons, the equivalent of 1.1
billion bushels, up 8.5 percent over 2001. This is the third
year in a row that soybean exports have exceeded export levels
in the previous year.
• ASA was awarded an
additional $1 million in Foreign Market Development funding
and an additional $300,000 in Market Access Program funding
over prior year levels. This additional $1.3 million to
develop international markets for U.S. soy is a direct result
of ASA's policy success in increasing funding for the FMD and
MAP programs in the 2002 Farm Bill.
• To address concerns that
labeling and traceability regulations proposed in the European
Union are impractical and not science-based, ASA was involved
in meetings with major German agricultural contacts in Berlin,
and roundtable discussions about strict segregation of
biotech-derived crops as part of the 22nd International Forum
on Agricultural Policy. ASA also appealed for biotechnology
regulations based on sound scientific principles at an
ASA-hosted conference held in Darmstadt.
• A record number of 1,310
growers attended the seventh annual Commodity Classic at the
Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. The
trade show included 624 booths representing 176 agriculture
related businesses and organizations. A total of 3,900 people
participated.
• The ASA Presidents' Summit
provided opportunities for 16 affiliate presidents to discuss
key soybean issues and network with each other and national
leaders. About 125 people participated in ASA's Soybean
Leadership College. ASA, state associations and recruiters
worked hard to reach beyond the established membership goal to
end the year with 25,565 members.
• USDA made the first
purchase of textured soy protein for international food
assistance efforts. Florida-based Food For The Poor requested
500 metric tons of TSP for distribution in Guyana where they
will use it to help feed children and adults in a country
where protein deficiency is common. The federal procurement
signals the increasing role that soy products can play in
meeting the nutritional needs of the hungry throughout the
world. ASA's World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program
provided USDA with TSP information that paved its entrance to
U.S. food assistance programs. Defatted soy flour, soy protein
concentrates, isolated soy protein and soy milk replacer were
also added to the list of products eligible for food
assistance programs.
2003: Significant
developments in Washington, D.C., and around the world were
positively influenced by the vigilance of the American Soybean
Association (ASA) on issues critical to the profitability of
U.S. soybean producers. Despite regulatory challenges and the
ongoing controversy surrounding biotech-enhanced crops, world
demand for soybeans and soybean products continued to grow
while prices paid to farmers greatly improved.
• Producers witnessed the
third straight year of soybean exports above the one billion
bushel mark, thanks in part to hurdles being overcome that
paved the way for China to become the largest export market
for U.S. soybeans. Strong domestic and international demand
depleted a 2.8 billion bushel U.S. soybean crop to the lowest
level of ending stocks since 1976.
• Work by ASA and state
affiliates generated a flurry of biodiesel-enhancing
legislative initiatives in the 108th Congress including a
Biodiesel Tax Incentive to provide a one-cent reduction in the
diesel fuel excise tax for each percentage of biodiesel
blended with conventional diesel up to 20 percent. EPACT
Reform also was introduced to remove the 50 percent cap on
biodiesel. Biodiesel use was introduced under the congestion
mitigation and air quality improvement program and in a
Renewable Fuel Standard. A Senate Biofuels Caucus was formed,
and USDA announced the final rule for the Bioenergy Program
that maintains reimbursement levels for soy-based biodiesel.
• ASA weighed in on the
illegal production of Roundup Ready® Soybeans (RRSB) in
Brazil, which is giving Brazilian growers an unfair
competitive advantage over U.S. growers and exporters. In a
White Paper delivered to the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative (USTR), ASA documented that the combination of
Brazilian growers not paying royalties on pirated RRSB seed,
estimated at 25-30 percent of Brazil’s entire 2002 crop, along
with the economic benefits Brazilian growers receive from RRSB
technology, gives Brazilian growers an ill-gotten $0.41 to
$0.95 per bushel ($15 to $35 per metric ton) competitive
advantage over U.S. growers.
• ASA also held numerous
discussions with Monsanto officials on the imperative need to
develop a system for collecting royalties for the Roundup
Ready content of Brazilian exports. As a result, Monsanto
implemented a royalty collection system based upon the
enforceability of intellectual property rights in the European
Union, Japan, and other countries where Monsanto has patent
protection. Although it is not a perfect solution, the system
presents a viable option given the lack of planting
authorization in Brazil, which prevents Monsanto from
collecting royalties on its patented seed.
• ASA and USDA’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) held a series of
meetings to discuss appropriate safeguards necessary to
prevent the introduction of Asian soybean rust spores into the
U.S. ASA was particularly concerned that due to low ending
stocks of domestically produced soybeans, some companies might
seek to import whole soybeans or soybean meal from South
America where soybean rust has progressed significantly in the
last two growing seasons. ASA urged APHIS to implement a
rigorous inspection and quarantine process, and if determined
necessary by pest risk analysis, to implement a prohibition on
whole commodity soybean imports, and adequate inspection and
processing procedures for soybean meal.
• ASA also met with USDA
researchers and seed breeders on accelerating development of
soybean varieties that are tolerant to soybean rust, and ASA
pursued increased Federal appropriations for soybean rust
work. ASA met with chemical companies to review fungicide
products that could be made available to growers, emergency
registration of such products, and the availability of such
products in response to a sudden soybean rust outbreak in the
United States.
• A total of 3,148 people
participated in the eighth annual Commodity Classic in
Charlotte, North Carolina, including 1,066 soybean and corn
growers. The trade show contained 682 booths representing 160
agriculture related businesses and organizations. The power of
grassroots advocacy by growers was apparent in ASA’s trade
show booth as nearly 2,700 e-mail messages were sent to key
members of Congress urging support for legislation to promote
biodiesel.
• The first-ever soy foods
luncheon on Capitol Hill was presented by ASA. The event drew
an estimated 300 people, including Members of Congress and
staff from urban and suburban regions where soyfoods are
experiencing rapid growth in popularity. The luncheon
presented cooking demonstrations by famous chefs and featured
various soy protein-based foods. Various displays described
ASA’s efforts to promote soy protein in domestic and
international markets.
• ASA continued its efforts
to make soymilk a reimbursable option as Congress worked to
reauthorize federal child nutrition programs. ASA led the
soymilk coalition in a second round of meetings with committee
staff from the Senate Agriculture Committee and the House
Education and the Workforce Committee. ASA’s efforts to add
fortified soymilk as a choice for students who cannot drink
cow’s milk for health or other reasons gained important
support when the American School Food Service Administrators (ASFSA)
included backing in its 2003 Legislative Issue Paper.
• ASA contributed soy protein
nutritional information to policy makers prior to passage of
landmark HIV/AIDS legislation that provides a $15 billion
five-year package that expands U.S. leadership in the global
fight of HIV/AIDS. ASA urged policy makers to recognize the
role nutrition can play in mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS
on populations in developing countries, and called on the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase its
nutritional emphasis in dealing with the AIDS pandemic. ASA
also produced for worldwide distribution a 2-volume CD-ROM
presentation designed to help private voluntary organizations
include more soy in their feeding programs. The presentation
included information about ASA's World Initiative for Soy in
Human Health (WISHH) program, 13 multimedia soy
demonstrations, and a collection of more than 20 soy food
recipes.
• At a series of river
navigation public hearings conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, ASA and state soybean leaders provided critical
testimony in support of Economic Alternative 6, which calls
for construction of seven new locks and five lock extensions
on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. ASA provided
information to attendees about the importance of river
transportation to the soybean industry and agriculture. ASA
urged Congress to authorize modernization of these
transportation infrastructures in the Water Resources
Development Act, and to provide funds to initiate these
projects in FY-2004 and FY-2005 appropriations.
• ASA and 20 other major food
chain organizations urged the Bush Administration to initiate
a dispute settlement proceeding against the European Union’s (EU)
new traceability and labeling regulations because they violate
the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to
Trade (TBT) provisions of the Uruguay Round agreement. The
regulations would negatively impact U.S. agricultural exports
to the EU, and would set a precedent for similar
trade-restrictive actions by other countries.
2004: As economic forces of
supply and demand pushed spring soybean futures to the highest
levels in more than 15 years, ASA took pride in its domestic
and international demand-building activities that helped make
it possible. This year’s new soybean crop reached a production
record 3.14 billion bushels with a record yield of 42.5
bushels per acre. For marketing year 2003-2004, U.S. soybean
exports exceeded 1.1 billion bushels, the highest level ever.
• ASA hosted its second
annual soyfoods luncheon in March, to demonstrate why soyfoods
are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. and overseas.
Themed "Soy Good: Kids and Adults Love It!" the event
highlighted the benefits of soyfoods for consumers of all
ages. A wide array of soy foods was provided that are
appropriate for events ranging from fine-dining menus to U.S.
and global school meals. The event provided an opportunity for
policymakers and their staffs to experience how great soyfoods
taste in addition to being good for them.
• The Child Nutrition and WIC
(Women, Infants and Children) Reauthorization Act of 2004 was
signed into law in June, marking an important step forward for
soymilk in federal nutrition programs. As a result of ASA
lobbying, the new law allows children who cannot drink cow’s
milk to be served soymilk with only a note from the parent, a
significant improvement over the old practice, which required
a doctor’s note. Soymilk manufacturers have expressed
enthusiasm for the new provisions and high interest in working
with schools to make soymilk available. The value of the
provision to the soy industry has been estimated at millions
of dollars annually.
• The United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) included record-levels of
value-added soy protein products in its fiscal 2004 Food for
Progress program. Donations to 22 developing countries include
soy flour, textured soy protein, and soy protein concentrate
(USDA’s first purchase of this product), plus soybean meal,
whole soybeans, soybean oil and corn-soy blend with an
estimated commercial value exceeding $19 million. ASA’s World
Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program was
instrumental in providing to the government and to private
voluntary organizations the nutritional information that led
to greater recognition of the benefits of soy protein.
• Legislation to build new
1,200-foot locks was introduced in both houses of the U.S.
Congress. On May 20, S. 2470 was introduced in the Senate, and
on July 8, H.R. 4785 was introduced in the House. The
legislation provides construction authorization to replace
seven locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Waterway
costing about $1.6 billion (50 percent cost-shared) along with
$1.6 billion in ecosystem restoration for the Upper
Mississippi. Upgrading locks and dams is a top policy priority
for ASA because 75 percent of U.S. soybean exports are shipped
down the Mississippi River to customers worldwide.
• In October, ASA achieved
one its most important legislative victories when President
George W. Bush signed into law a bill containing the
first-ever biodiesel tax incentive. Passage of the biodiesel
tax incentive and extension of the ethanol tax incentive was
realized as part of H.R. 4520, also known as the American JOBS
Creation Act of 2004. For every 100 million gallons of
soy-based biodiesel demand, the price of a bushel of soybeans
is expected to increase by 10 cents. That could add an average
of another $2,000 to the bottom line of farmers growing 500
acres of soybeans. The tax incentive will take effect Jan. 1,
2005, and lasts for two years. It is expected to provide an
economic surge in several sectors of the U.S. economy
including manufacturing, agriculture, and all sectors that
provide support services to these industries.
• ASA held numerous meetings
with Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) staff and
USDA policy officials to ensure that the U.S. was protected
from the accidental introduction of Asian soybean rust via
imports. ASA urged USDA to more rapidly undertake development
of a national strategy for controlling and mitigating the
potential for an infestation. And in a year when Congress
chose to fund virtually no new research programs, ASA helped
secure more than $1 million in new funding for soybean rust
research.
• ASA actively worked with
manufacturers, USDA and EPA to increase the availability of
fungicide treatments. Prior to this time, there were only two
chemicals approved for use on soybeans for Asian rust. By the
end of the year, there were six chemicals approved, with at
least 8 different fungicide products available for farmers to
buy. Full registration was pending for one additional product,
and approval was pending for three additional chemicals under
Section 18.
• ASA implemented grower
education programs that included an ASA-hosted conference in
January, and a series of seven regional education meetings
during the summer. ASA provided it’s members with a special "Soybean
Rust Backgrounder," followed by a "Growers’ Guide to
Soybean Rust," and ultimately, a 20-page "Soybean Rust
Reference Guide."
• On August 20, ASA was the
only organization to go on record confirming a reported case
of Asian soybean rust that was identified north of Cali,
Colombia, about five degrees north of the equator in South
America. Confirmation of soybean rust above the equator
signaled the advancement of spores in the direction of the
continental U.S.
• Advance preparation of a
Soybean Rust Crisis Communications Plan made it possible for
ASA to quickly and effectively take action following
confirmation on November 10, that Asian soybean rust had been
found on soybean leaf samples collected from two research
plots near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
• The 2004 Commodity Classic
achieved record-breaking success in Las Vegas. Total
attendance was 4,112, an all-time high for the nine-year-old
event. The number of growers in attendance was also a record
at 1,517. The Commodity Classic Trade Show contained 675
booths representing 173 companies. There were 91 media
representatives registered this year.
• At the beginning of fiscal
year 2004, ASA had 25,045 members, and by the end of the year,
25,804, a net increase of 759 members, which is a gain of
slightly more than 3 percent. In total, 23 state associations
achieved their membership goals for 2004.
2005: Concerns about the
impact of Asian Soybean Rust disease dominated the industry’s
attention until after the pods were filled. Discovered in the
continental United States for the first time in October 2004,
ASA continued its educational commitment to soybean growers
with a winter series of Soybean Rust Seminars. A total of five
one-day seminars were held for 945 participating producers.
• ASA also developed a
comprehensive Soybean Rust Information Center. This
Internet resource is a significantly expanded version of ASA’s
highly regarded 20-page Soybean Rust Reference Guide,
which was distributed to all ASA members and all attendees of
ASA’s winter series of Soybean Rust Seminars.
• After strong encouragement
from ASA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided
additional funding for soybean rust surveillance and
monitoring. The framework allows for reporting where soybean
rust has been confirmed, as well as predicting where it was
likely to spread during the 2005-growing season. Later in the
year, ASA also secured USDA funding for the 2006-growing
season.
• ASA teamed-up with Doane
Agricultural Services Company to launch the Soybean Rust
Advisory Program, an online resource designed to provide
advice about the prevention and treatment of soybean rust.
This resource utilized a nationwide network of crop
consultants who monitored the progression of confirmed soybean
rust outbreaks in the U.S. and provides growers with fungicide
application recommendations based on regional analysis.
• In 2005, U.S. soybean
producers were very fortunate. The weather conditions
throughout most of the year were about as unfavorable for
soybean rust as they could be. Outbreaks were limited to a few
areas in the deep south, where growers were able to minimize
the economic impact of the disease by applying fungicides.
• In January, the USDA
publicized a final rule to implement a program of preferred
procurement of biobased products by federal agencies. This
final rule was the result of ASA-supported provisions in the
2002 Farm Bill. The rule requires all federal agencies to
preferentially purchase biobased products, such as biodiesel,
that have been designated by USDA as eligible under this
program.
• In July, ASA hailed passage
of the Energy Bill as a crucial step forward in establishing
biodiesel as a long-term component of the nation’s energy
supply. The legislation contains major ASA-supported
provisions including an extension of the federal excise tax
credit for biodiesel through 2008, creation of a new small
agri-biodiesel producer credit, provisions for alternate fuel
infrastructure and establishment of a 7.5 billion gallon
renewable fuels standard. Biodiesel production tripled to over
75 million gallons in 2004.
• Also in July, ASA
congratulated the U.S. House of Representative for passage of
H.R. 2864, the Water Resources Development Act of 2005. The
legislation, which provides $1.72 billion in funding
authorization for lock improvements and $1.58 billion for
ecosystem restoration, was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of
406-14. This is truly a victory for the ASA and for all water
resources stakeholders. This legislation authorizes
construction of seven new 1,200-foot navigation locks,
small-scale navigation improvements, and ecosystem restoration
on the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. By the end of
the legislative session, WRDA was still waiting Senate floor
action.
• ASA lobbied hard and gained
Congressional approval of an historic trade agreement between
the United States, the Dominican Republic, and the Central
American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua. Economists estimate the agreement
could boost U.S. agricultural exports by $1.5 billion when
fully implemented. This is great news for U.S. soybean farmers
because CAFTA-DR will solidify the U.S. position as the
preferred supplier of soybeans and soybean products to these
Central American nations. The six CAFTA-DR countries represent
a growing region of 45 million people that imported $264
million in U.S. soy products during 2004.
• ASA also celebrated a
decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National
Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program to
provide up to $5 million of funding for functional genomics
and bioinformatics on legume crops such as soybeans. This
announcement is the culmination of a four-year cooperative
effort led by ASA. This new $5 million in funding is an
important investment in the future of U.S. soybean production
that will help us better understand disease resistance in
general, and identify genes that can be useful in other ways
to protect the soybean crop.
• To better serve its
members, ASA developed online information resources that are
available in a new "members-only" section of its
SoyGrowers.com web site. Included is an online edition of the
ASA Today newsletter, an electronic version of ASA’s
Weekly Leader Letter, an archive of previous issues, and
the Soybean Rust Information Center. More than 6,000
members took also advantage of an opportunity to sign up to
receive the Weekly Leader Letter via email.
• The 2005 Commodity Classic
in Austin was attended by more than 3,300 participants
including 1,046 growers and 85 media representatives. The
Trade Show contained 708 booths representing 186 exhibitors.
About 850 people attended the ASA Awards Banquet on Friday
night. ASA held its SoyPAC Founders Event. More than 125 ASA
members invested an initial $250 in the PAC, and more than 150
other ASA members invested various amounts.
• At the beginning of fiscal
year 2005, ASA had 25,804 members, and by the end of the year,
25,013 members, a net decrease of 791, which is a loss of
slightly more than 3 percent. In total, 12 state associations
achieved their membership goals for 2005.
• Farmer leaders from the
American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers
Association and the National Cotton Council met in Chicago on
May 9, for an ASA-organized international news conference that
recognized the planting of the one-billionth acre of
biotech-enhanced crops. ASA managed the news conference and
worldwide distribution of press materials. Globally, six
percent of canola, 11 percent of cotton, 23 percent of corn
and 60 percent of soybeans were grown from biotech-enhanced
seedstock.
• USDA confirmed U.S. soybean
exports during marketing year 2004/05 exceeded 1.1 billion
bushels (bil. bu). This year’s all-time record is more than 3
percent higher than the previous record of 1.063 bil. bu. set
in MY2001. These results are a positive reflection on the
efficiency of ASA’s international market development program,
and the market-opening policy efforts carried out by ASA.
• Negotiations and work
toward reaching a mutually agreeable way forward with the
United Soybean Board on International Marketing absorbed much
of ASA leadership’s time and attention. Ultimately, a
Memorandum of Understanding with USB was reached on the
formation of a new international marketing entity that was
jointly founded and controlled by ASA and USB, and work on a
final agreement and implementation details continued.
• Beginning October 1, 2005,
ASA and USB formed the United States Soybean Export Council to
implement the International Marketing program for U.S.
soybeans. ASA worked hard to make the USSEC as successful as
possible through a myriad of start-up and transition issues,
while also asking that USSEC and USB honor in good faith
financial commitments to ASA. The USSEC board will consist of
representatives from ASA, USB, and the U.S. soybean industry.
|
