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1986 – ASA supports creation
of the GSM-102 and GSM-103 export credit guarantee programs. From 1986 to
2006, the U.S. exported $10.5 billion in soybeans and $4.2 in soybean meal
under these programs. Export Credit Guarantee Programs help ensure that
credit is available to finance commercial exports of U.S. agricultural
products, while providing competitive credit terms to buyers.
1989 - ASA develops U.S. Government World
Trade Organization (WTO) case against the EU's oilseed policies. After the
U.S. won the case and a subsequent appeal in 1992, the EU market for U.S.
soybean exports increased by 175,000 metric tons by 1996, equivalent to $573
million in sales.
1989 - ASA participated in negotiation of
the Blair House Agreement, which restricted EU oilseed acreage and limited
production of vegetable oil for industrial purposes on set-aside acres.
1990 – ASA successfully lobbies to
establish soybean marketing loan at $5.02 per bushel, less a 2% origination
fee, for a net loan of $4.92. $6 billion in loans were made to soybean
farmers between 1990 and 1995. The marketing loan provides price protection
by allowing producers to repay their loans when local prices fall below
their loan rate. (specific benefits are identified under the 1996 Farm Bill
point).
1990 – ASA and state associations support
creation of the "0-92" planting option for non-program crops on program crop
base acres, allowing soybean farmers to receive 92% of the deficiency
payments for program crops on acres planted to soybeans. Payments on
diverted base acres totaled $254 million in 1991-95. Soybean acreage
increased 8% in 1990 to 1995, from 58 to 62.5 million acres.
1990 - ASA and state associations develop
and lobby to create the national soybean checkoff program to fund research
and promotion activities. Since 1990, the soybean checkoff has invested over
$1 billion in promotion and research activities.
1993 - ASA successfully lobbies to
eliminate the 2% marketing loan origination fee. Elimination of the fee
increased the value of the loan and encouraged greater producer
participation.
1994 - ASA and state associations
successfully lobby Congress to enact the "Vegetable Ink Printing Act,
pioneer legislation that required a preference for vegoil-based products in
the printing ink procurement programs of federal agencies.
Use of soybean oil in biobased products,
not including biodiesel and soap, totaled 3.2 billion pounds in 2001-2007,
the oil equivalent of 291 million bushels of soybeans. This represents over
$500 million in value.
1996 - ASA and state associations lobby to
increase the soybean marketing loan from $4.92 to $5.26 per bushel, the only
commodity loan rate increase in the 1996 Farm Bill. Over $8.4 billion in
loan deficiency payments were made to soybean farmers between 1998 and 2002.
1996 – ASA and state associations
successfully support establishment of full planting flexibility in the 1996
Farm Bill. As a result, soybean acreage increased 13% in 1996-2005, from
63.8 to 72.1 million acres.
1998 - ASA and state associations
successfully lobby Congress to amend the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to make
biodiesel eligible as an alternative fuel. This marked the beginning of the
commercial U.S. biodiesel industry, and biodiesel sales climb from virtually
zero to 5 million gallons by 2001.
1999 - During a time of historically low
commodity prices, ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to
provide $500 million in oilseed payments (worth 14 cents per bushel) and
freeze the soybean loan rate at $5.26 per bushel rather than having it
decline to $5.16 per bushel (worth over $795 million to soybean producers in
1999-2001).
1999 - ASA files a petition with the U.S.
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) urging approval for a Soy Protein Health
Claim. FDA approval of the Soy Protein Health Claim triggers an explosion of
interest in soy protein among nutritionists, dieticians, food manufacturers
and consumers. Sales of soy foods nearly double from $2.1 billion in 1999 to
almost $4 billion in 2006.
2000 - Working with State Associations, ASA
establishes the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program to
promote the use of soy protein in international food assistance programs by
USDA, USAID, and Private Voluntary Organizations. Use of soy protein
products in U.S. food aid programs grew by 10,400 metric tons, worth $4.4
million, in 2001-2007.
2000 - ASA worked with U.S. trade officials
to block China’s proposed soybean import quota at around 110 million bushels
per year. As a result, China’s soybean imports now total over 1 billion
bushels annually, with roughly half of the imports coming from U.S. soybean
farmers. From 2000 to 2007, the value to U.S. soybean farmers of U.S.
soybean exports over China's then-proposed quota level is over $17 billion.
2001 - ASA and state associations
successfully lobby Congress to increase Federal soybean research funding by
$3.2 million.
2001 - ASA develops specifications for and
succeeds in obtaining U.S. government approval to make five soy protein
products eligible for purchase under food aid programs. Between 2001
and 2006, the value of soy exports under U.S. food aid programs totaled
almost $2.6 billion.
2002 - Soybean farmers achieve full program
crop status in 2002 Farm Bill with new 44-cent per bushel direct payment and
$5.80 per bushel target price. $607 million per year in direct payments are
made to soybean farmers, totaling $3.6 billion between 2002 and 2007. The
$5.80 per bushel soybean target price improves the soybean safety net by 10
cents per bushel over pre-2002 levels.
2002 - ASA and state associations
successful in including a new Bioenergy Program in the Farm Bill that
provides payments to domestic biodiesel producers to make biodiesel more
competitive with petroleum diesel. As a result of this program, and earlier
changes in EPACT legislation, biodiesel sales climb from 5 million gallons
in 2001 to 25 million gallons in 2003.
2002 - ASA was instrumental in passage of
landmark provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill that require federal agencies to
buy biobased products. Many biobased products, ranging from spray foam
insulation to carpet backing to cleaning supplies, can be made with soybean
oil to reduce their petroleum content. Federal procurement encourages growth
of private-sector markets.
2002 - ASA successfully lobbies for
establishment of the Dole-McGovern Food for Education Program, which created
funding for new soy programs. Exports of soybean products under
Dole-McGovern totaled 79,600 metric tons in 2004-2006.
2003 - ASA and state associations succeed
in increasing Federally-funded soy research by $10 million per year over
year 2000 levels. As a result of these and previous efforts,
Federally-funded soybean research now exceeds $40 million per year.
2004 - ASA and state associations
successfully lobby Congress to establish the biodiesel tax incentive.
Passage of the tax incentive stimulates biodiesel to grow from 25 million
gallons in 2003 to 75 million gallons in 2005. The impact of the incentive
on soybean prices is conservatively estimated at 8 cents per bushel, or over
$250 million per year in increased revenues for soybean farmers.
2004 - ASA and state associations
successfully lobby Congress to allow schools to offer soymilk as an option
under the school lunch and school breakfast programs without requiring a
doctor's note. With 5-10% of the school-age population needing alternatives
to cow’s milk (due to allergies, lactose intolerance, religious beliefs, or
cultural practices), the potential growth of soymilk in school lunch and
breakfast programs is great.
2004 – ASA strongly supports the successful
negotiation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) between
the United States, the Dominican Republic, and the Central American
countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In
2004-2006, U.S. exports of soybeans to CAFTA-DR countries increased $20
million, soybean meal exports increased $108 million, and soybean oil
exports increased $8 million.
2004 – ASA supports negotiation of the
Chilean Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The value of U.S. soybean meal exports
to Chile has increased from $248,000 before the Agreement to $43 million in
2006.
2005 - ASA and state associations successfully lobby Congress to extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2008. Biodiesel sales grow from 75 million gallons in 2005 to 450 million gallons in 2007. The growth in biodiesel sales raises soybean prices by a conservative estimate of at least $2.00 per bushel, increasing annual soybean farmer revenue by $5.1 billion.
2005 - ASA and state associations led
political, media, and education efforts to ensure that the United States was
prepared to respond to Asian soybean rust disease. As a result of ASA’s
efforts: USDA has spent approximately $2.5 million annually to implement a
sentinel plot and diagnosis network; The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) granted 28 approvals for fungicides to be used on soybeans with
either Section 18 (emergency) or Section 3 (full) approval; and U.S. soybean
farmers were provided with comprehensive education and training programs to
teach them about soybean rust scouting, detection and management.
2006 - As a result of ASA and state
association efforts, USDA and the Department of Energy announce a joint
initiative to map the soybean genome. Genome mapping is key to improved soy
yields, pathogen resistance, and improved nutrition. Additionally, in
response to ASA leadership, USDA announces $5 million for legume genomics
funding.
2007 - After five years of coalition
lobbying with other farm organizations, ASA and state associations convince
Congress to pass legislation authorizing over $2.2 billion for the
construction and upgrading of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi and
Illinois Rivers. With 70% of soybean exports moving through these waterways
to the Gulf, modernizing this infrastructure is key to maintaining U.S.
soybean farmer competitiveness in international markets.
2007 - To enhance the federal biobased
procurement program, ASA has continued to champion biobased procurement in
the 2007 Farm Bill.
2007 - ASA worked hard to persuade Congress
to approve Free Trade Agreements with Mexico (1993), Canada (1989), Chile
(2004) and Morocco (2005). Collectively, these FTAs have resulted in
increased sales of $16,264,927,162 or $16.26 billion in soybeans, soybean
meal and soybean oil to these markets. |
