ASA Applauds EPA RFS2
Final Rule Favorable to Biodiesel The American Soybean
Association (ASA) applauded the release on Feb. 3, of the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Final Rule for the
Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2) that provides a
positive outcome for biodiesel and soy biodiesel. Even with
the inclusion of questionable indirect land use variables,
EPA determined that soy biodiesel can achieve Greenhouse Gas
(GHG) emissions reductions of 57 percent, exceeding the 50
percent reduction threshold needed to qualify for the RFS2
biodiesel mandate.ASA and its members have worked
hard to educate EPA and policymakers to correct flaws in the
original RFS2 Proposed Rule issues in 2009. ASA generated
significant grassroots support and provided extensive
information during the EPA’s comment period on RFS2,
resulting in thousands of comments from soybean producers
and industry supporters being submitted to EPA.
ASA Launches Online Advocacy Training Center for Growers
The American Soybean Association (ASA) unveiled its new
online Advocacy Training Center that teaches basic skills
and protocols for advocating farmer-friendly policy to
elected officials. It is also designed to encourage more
farmers to get actively involved in the political process by
showing how easy it can be to participate and be successful
in grassroots advocacy. The training experience is divided
into four modules: Effective Advocacy, Ethics and
Fundraising, Communicating with Congress, and Meeting with
Elected Officials. Each module takes only 10 to 15 minutes
to complete, and each module features an interactive
self-test at the end so growers can see what they have
learned. In addition, Advocacy Resources and a Help Center
are also provided, as well as links to interviews with ASA
leaders and policy staff, and external links to additional
materials.
ASA Celebrates 90th Year As Grassroots Voice of Soybean
Farmers In 2010,
ASA celebrates its 90th year as the only member-driven
association focused on representing the best interests of
soybean farmers on Capitol Hill and around the globe.
Established in 1920, ASA has been a vigilant promoter and
watchdog for soybean farmers when ag and environmental
policy, government regulations and trade agreements are
being developed. From October 2009 through 2010, the
American Soybean Association will be celebrating its 90th
Anniversary. A variety of historical information, photos,
special activities and commemorative items will be presented
to recognize this milestone anniversary.
ASA Celebrates Approval
of LibertyLink® and Roundup Ready 2 Yield™ Soybeans On
April 2, ASA celebrated more than a decade of diligent and
persistent work on behalf of U.S. soybean farmers to advance
global acceptance of new biotech soybean traits after
LibertyLink® soybeans received food safety approval from the
Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). This final
regulatory approval in South Korea cleared the way for
unrestricted planting in the U.S. and importation into all
major markets for LibertyLink soybeans, along with Roundup
Ready 2 Yield™ soybeans, which received final KFDA
regulatory approval on Feb. 27, 2009.
USDA Implements ASA Biodiesel Priorities USDA
announced implementation of provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill
that support growth of biofuels production in the U.S.,
including biodiesel. The initiatives include $30 million in
funding for the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels
which ASA successfully lobbied for during the farm bill
debate. Under this program, U.S. biodiesel producers using
domestic feedstocks will receive payments to help compete
with petroleum-based diesel and with imported biodiesel,
which can be subsidized by foreign governments. While
pleased that USDA is moving forward with implementation, ASA
is urging that USDA make some changes in its proposed rules
so that payments are based on all gallons produced, not
incremental gallons.
ASA Supports Peterson Climate Change Provisions but not
House Bill As the House of Representatives took up its
version of climate change legislation on June 26, ASA
strongly endorsed agriculture-related provisions sponsored
by Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN). The
provisions explicitly exempt agriculture from the bill’s
greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements, and put
USDA in charge of implementing an agriculture and forestry
offset program under which producers can earn credits for
practices that reduce, sequester or avoid greenhouse gas
emissions. The Peterson amendment would also prohibit EPA
from taking international indirect land use changes into
account in determining the eligibility of biodiesel under
the Renewable Fuels Standard mandate for five years, while
this issue is studied. While supporting the Peterson
provisions, ASA did not endorse the underlying climate
change bill, citing its uncertain but potentially major
impact on energy costs to soybean processors and
manufacturers of agricultural inputs. ASA will work to
improve any final climate change bill when the Senate takes
up the issue later this year.
ASA Opposes Administration’s Proposed Cuts in Ag Budget
ASA and other farm organizations joined forces in a letter
to the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee
opposing the cuts in agriculture-related programs in the
Administration’s budget proposal for FY-2010. The letter
objects to the proposal to means test farm payments by
restricting eligibility to producers with less than $500,000
in annual income from agricultural sales, as well as a
proposal to cap Marketing Loan Gains and Loan Deficiency
Payments. Also highlighted are concerns with the proposed 20
percent cut in the $200 million budget for the Market Access
Program, which supports soybean and livestock product
exports.
