Already this summer, we’ve seen a win for soybean farmers with the passing of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), but there’s still much work to do as we look ahead to finalizing RFS numbers, passing voluntary GMO labeling legislation, fighting over-regulation by EPA, gaining biotech approvals in China and Europe, and finalizing the TPP trade negotiations, among others. Here’s a highlight of just some of ASA’s major efforts, accomplishments and ongoing initiatives. Stephen Censky, ASA CEO
President Obama Signs Trade Promotion Authority into Law – Trade promotion authority (TPA) will soon help create and strengthen international trade agreements, opening valuable markets and providing an advantage for U.S. farmers. President Barack Obama signed TPA into law on Monday, June 29, 2015. TPA was a key priority for ASA in the 114th Congress. The bill gives the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) the ability to get the best deal possible, and it provides Congress the oversight it needs to ensure every agreement will work for American farmers.
ASA Files Brief Opposing Vermont’s Biotech Labeling Law – ASA, along with the National Corn Growers Association, the National Cotton Council and the Corn Refiners Association filed an amicus brief supporting the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) and others in challenging Vermont’s law requiring that food products containing biotech ingredients be labeled. ASA’s brief outlines the extensive USDA and EPA regulatory systems that govern the approval of new biotech products, and supports GMA’s argument that the law would disrupt interstate commerce.
ASA Leaders Appointed to USDA Trade Advisory Committees – USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman appointed ASA CEO Steve Censky and ASA Director Joe Steinkamp, Evansville, Ind., to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and ASA Director Matt Stutzman, Adrian, Mich., to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds.
ASA Discusses Increasing Ag Research Efforts with White House Science Office – ASA and other research-focused organizations met in June with Dr. Jo Handelsman, the associate director for science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The group discussed how to sustain efforts for increased agriculture research across all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.
Soy Growers Talk Freedom to Operate at IOPD, ISGA Meetings – U.S. soy leaders joined oilseed grower representatives from around the world in Chicago, Ill. to discuss the freedom to operate issues producers are facing and how they can work together to address those issues. The annual International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD) meeting, hosted by the U.S. soy family, was held in the United States for the first time in six years and welcomed participants from 11 major oilseed producing countries spanning North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Malaysia.
Soy Growers Happy with Increased Biodiesel Volumes, But Can Produce More – In a hearing in late June on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Kansas City, Kan., ASA Kansas Director Bob Henry pointed to the many benefits of renewable biodiesel produced from soybean oil as he called on the agency to maintain its commitment to clean, domestically-produced renewable energy. In his testimony, Henry called on EPA to “support more aggressive, but easily achievable, volume targets for biodiesel.
ASA Defends Biotech as APHIS Weighs Possible Changes – ASA urged the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to remember the long history of safe use of biotechnology products and the benefits to agriculture as they consider possible changes to regulations. ASA also pointed out U.S. growers have adopted biotech crops at an unprecedented rate because of the many environmental and economic benefits they provide.
ASA Lauds House Passage of COOL Repeal – In early June, the House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the country of origin labeling standards for meat products sold in the United States. The legislation followed a final ruling from the World Trade Organization that the COOL statute represents a violation of U.S. commitments under the WTO. ASA has supported repeal of the COOL rule based on potential retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soy exports, and on adverse impacts to the livestock industry, which represents the largest consumer of domestically produced soybean meal.
In Trans Fat Decision, FDA Adds Time for High Oleic Soybean Oil to Meet Market Needs – Following a final ruling from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in mid-June that rescinds the generally regarded as safe (GRAS) designation for partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), ASA noted the three-year time period – until June of 2018 – for the food industry to replace most uses of PHOs. ASA believes this compliance period will allow the U.S. soybean industry to ramp up production of high oleic soybean oil that can safely replace PHOs and highly saturated fats such as palm oil in many food applications.
Senate Committee Approves Bill to Force Withdrawal of WOTUS Rule – The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bill that would require EPA to withdraw the final Waters of the U.S (WOTUS) rule and reissue a revised rule in June. ASA has called on Congress to take legislative action to prevent the Clean Water Rule from taking effect. ASA specifically cited the nexus test as exceeding both the intent of Congress and the rulings of the Supreme Court. The House of Representatives passed HR 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015, on May 12.
ASA Commends House on Passage of Grain Standards Act Reauthorization – ASA commended the House of Representatives on passage of a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA), and called on the Senate to act quickly on its version of the legislation. Unless a bill is enacted by Sept. 30, important provisions of the current USGSA will expire, putting the reliability of export inspection of soybeans and grain at risk.
Soy Growers Relieved By New West Coast Ports Labor Contract – The members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) voted 82 percent in favor of ratifying the agreement reached earlier this year with the Pacific Maritime Administration (PMA) after a lengthy and disruptive negotiation. ASA and other industry organizations impacted by the slowdown that occurred at the ports during the negotiation, are relieved the new agreement was ratified and hope that the ILWU and the PMA will work to ensure that there are no further disruption of port operations.
Soy Producers Around the Globe Discuss Biotech, More in China – The International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA) held its second mission to China in April, where discussion focused on delays in biotechnology trait approvals, among other soy issues. ASA President Wade Cowan participated in the weeklong meetings in Beijing, where he said having the soy exporting countries come together, sent a strong message.
Soy Growers Support Honey Bee Colony Health Research, Funding – ASA showed support for increased attention to honey bee research activities in a letter to Congress in later April. ASA and more than 40 other agricultural groups in the letter commended President Barack Obama’s FY 2016 budget, which includes an increase to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research budget for pollinator health among other honey bee analytics and projects. ASA asked Congress for assistance in ensuring funding to fully pursue pollinator health initiatives.
ASA Pushes for National GMO Labeling Standard – ASA continued to stress support of a consistent, science based national food labeling act in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in April. In the letter, ASA and more than 370 organizations supported the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) that would ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform.
