Finally, after tireless efforts from soybean farmers and industry leaders, we are one step closer to a voluntary GMO labeling legislation with the Senate passage. Now we now turn our full attention to the House and will repeatedly call on representatives to take up and pass the bill. In addition to GMO labeling issues, we look ahead to improved RFS numbers, restructuring of the Biodiesel Tax Credit, fighting over-regulation by EPA, gaining biotech approvals in China and Europe and uncertainty in trade negotiations, among others. Here’s a highlight of just some of ASA’s major efforts, accomplishments and ongoing initiatives.
–Stephen Censky, ASA CEO
ASA Urges House to Pass GMO Labeling Package- Following Senate passage of a bill to set a national standard for the labeling of foods containing GMO ingredients, ASA called on the House to take up and quickly pass the measure. ASA thanked Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow for their work on the bill and urged the House to act as soon as possible to provide certainty in the marketplace for the nation’s farmers and consumers. In weeks leading up to the Senate passage, ASA urged Roberts and Stabenow to reach a compromise bill, and soy growers to contact their Senators and encourage support.
ASA Calls on EPA to Improve RFS Proposed Rule, Urges Congress to Co-Sponsor the Biodiesel Tax Credit-The soybean industry played a major role in the NBB membership meeting in Washington, D.C. in June. Two primary policy priorities were the focus of the meeting– the RFS volume requirements and the Biodiesel Tax Credit. ASA called on the EPA to increase the proposed volumes for biomass-based diesel to 2.5 billion gallons for 2018 in the Proposed Rule for the RFS at an EPA national public hearing. ASA also urged soy growers to contact their members of the U.S. House of Representatives and encourage them to cosponsor the Biodiesel Tax Credit legislation in the House and Senate. Legislation introduced in the House would extend the biodiesel tax credit for three years (2017-19) and restructure it to a producer’s tax credit. ASA supports restructuring the tax incentive to a domestic producer’s credit.
ASA Intensifies Push for Immediate Approval of Soy Traits in Europe- ASA ramped up its call for approval of three outstanding soybean traits by the European Union in June, saying that the tools are a critical part of the industry’s ongoing quest to meet sustainability and consumer demand goals and that continued delays pose serious issues both for farmers and industry. In a letter to European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, ASA expressed deep concern with the EU’s delayed authorization of three new soybean traits: Monsanto’s dicamba-tolerant RR2Xtend and Vistive Gold high oleic traits, as well as Bayer’s isoxaflutole-resistant Balance Bean trait. All three traits received positive opinions from the European Food Safety Authority in May and June of last year, and have awaited approval for five months following an Appeals Committee ruling in January.
Soy Growers to Administration: Prioritize Eliminating Trade, Biotech Barriers in China- ASA urged that reducing trade barriers for crops produced with safe crop biotechnology must be a priority in upcoming meetings with China. In a letter ASA and other groups commended the Administration for its progress with China on agricultural innovation and trade, but stressed the need for action soon.
Soy Growers Urge Froman, Vilsack to Resolve TTIP Issues- ASA and other ag organizations expressed concerns with TTIP negotiations and urged critical issues be addressed in a letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in June. ASA emphasized concern for other trade agreements the EU successful in exempting sensitive agricultural sectors and regulatory barriers from meaningful liberalization and stated we cannot support this outcome and the issues must be addressed now.
ASA Participates in Trans-Pacific Partnership Ag Week in D.C.- ASA led briefings in both the House and Senate to educate agriculture and trade staffers on the benefits of the TPP during Ag TPP Week in Washington D.C. With the release of the International Trade Commission report in June, ASA renewed its call for Congress to work toward passage of the 12-nation trade pact and touted a number of potential gains if the deal is passed, including that by 2032 exports to TPP nations would increase by $27.2 billion and the U.S. ag economy would grow by $10 billion. For soybean farmers, the benefits of the TPP come in the form of increased soybean meal sales domestically to meet demand created by increased meat exports to TPP nations.
ASA Continues Work on County Yields, Payments Discrepancy- ASA has been working with USDA to address discrepancies in county yields and payments under the Agricultural Risk Coverage program’s county option (ARC-CO). These discrepancies came to light last October, when payments were made for 2014 crops, the first year under the Agricultural Act of 2014 (AA-14), also known as the farm bill.
Soy Growers Underscore Value of Farm Credit- ASA and other agriculture groups sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts to support the Farm Credit System, reiterating the important role the Farm Credit System plays in meeting the needs of growers across the country. The letter also stated that the Farm Credit System and commercial banks work together to ensure agricultural producers and their industry partners have access to financial tools that are vital to their success.
Soy Growers to EPA: New Label on Soil-Saving Tool Restrictive, Costly- Soy growers expressed concerns in comments sent to EPA about new label and application requirements for a valuable herbicide that could come with a high price to growers and their operations. Paraquat is an effective resistance management and soil-saving tool for soybean farmers across the country and especially in Southern states. It is extremely important for no-till and conservation tillage systems where problems have arisen with weeds that are resistant to other herbicide products. ASA has concerns about two of the new label requirements: the closed system requirement and the restriction to be sprayed by certified applicators only, both proposed for implementation in 2018.
ASA Joins Lawsuit to Defend Treated Seeds- ASA as part of an industry coalition recently asked a federal court on to allow them to join the lawsuit Anderson v. McCarthy. The suit, brought by a number of plaintiffs requested a court order requiring the EPA to regulate seeds treated with neonicotinoids as pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which provides authority to EPA to regulate pesticides. ASA reiterated the importance of the freedom to plant treated seeds.
ASA Asks for Full Funding of Market Access and Foreign Market Development- ASA and a number of ag groups have urged the Chair and Ranking Member of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committees to provide the full funding of $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for FMD as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill to help maintain and expand U.S. agricultural exports, protect and create American jobs, strengthen farm income and help to offset the considerable government-supported advantages afforded our international competitors.
Soy Growers Urge Senate Committee to Break Through Financial Barriers in U.S. Trade with Cuba- ASA, in effort with U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to take action on legislation needed to allow private financing for agricultural exports to Cuba, stressing the important economic value Cuba provides as a trading partner. ASA also strong supported similar efforts in the House. The groups said that while the normalization process between the U.S. and Cuba began in December 2014 and improvements to Cuba-related regulations have allowed other industries to explore business opportunities, restrictions on private financing have hindered agricultural sales.
