ASA continues to pursue an aggressive policy agenda, working with the 115th Congress and Administration to stress the importance of agricultural trade, plant breeding innovation, a strong safety net, and regulatory certainty for farmers. Over the last few months ASA has busy on Capitol Hill and with the new Administration, and looks forward to remaining so on behalf of all soy growers.
–Stephen Censky, ASA CEO
ASA Welcomes President Trump’s Decision to Focus on NAFTA Modernization—ASA welcomed an announcement from President Donald Trump that the United States would remain a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The announcement came following reports that the White House was readying an executive order to withdraw from the agreement, prompting significant concern and swift action from ASA and other farm groups that recognize the importance of NAFTA and agreements like it. Instead, the White House announced that it will engage with Canada and Mexico in a renegotiation of the major trade pact, which has significantly benefitted soybean producers.
ASA Lists Benchmarks in Comments on NAFTA Renegotiation— In comments submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, ASA underscored the importance of maintaining and building on the extensive agricultural trade relationships have developed between the United States and Canada and Mexico through the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Soy Growers Oppose Rollback of Cuba Normalization Policy— ASA opposed the executive order released from President Trump that rolls back provisions to further open Cuba to American investment and trade. In a statement, ASA Vice President and Iowa farmer John Heisdorffer pointed to the lost potential for American soybean farmers in Cuba as the United States takes a step back in its effort to increase opportunities for trade with the island nation.
Administration’s 100-Day China Plan a Step Forward for Soybeans— ASA welcomed details from the Department of Commerce regarding the Trump Administration’s 100-Day Action Plan of the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue and particularly cheered the inclusion of commitments to address the current backlog of approvals of new biotechnology traits for import into China.
ASA Cheers Creation of USDA Trade Under Secretary— ASA expressed strong support for the establishment of an Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ASA also submitted comments on the proposed reorganization of USDA.
Soy Growers Support CREAATE Act to Double MAP, FMD Funding— ASA strongly supported new legislation from Reps. Dan Newhouse and Chellie Pingree to double funding for the MAP and FMD programs though the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act.
Waters of the U.S. Withdrawal a Step Toward Regulatory Certainty for Soybean Farmers— With an announcement in June from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it would formally repeal the Waters of the United States rule, ASA hailed what it called a significant step toward greater regulatory certainty for soybean farmers.
ASA Welcomes President Trump’s Infrastructure Commitment— ASA Governing Committee member Bret Davis, of Ohio, and Directors Kendell Culp, of Indiana, and Gerry Hayden, of Kentucky, were among a number of soybean farmers that joined President Trump in Cincinnati to highlight the economic importance of the inland waterways system and the need to invest in upgrades to the locks and dams that enable the system to serve as an efficient mode of moving commodities, such as soybeans.
ASA Provides Input to USDA, FDA on Advances in Plant Breeding — ASA submitted comments to both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding proposed rules on how biotechnology and modern plant breeding methods should be regulated. ASA urged that modern plant breeding methods such as gene editing that make targeted changes within a plant’s own genome similar to traditional plant breeding methods should be regulated in the same manner as traditional breeding. Additionally, ASA urged that the U.S. Government proactively work with trading partners to achieve similar approaches to that trade is not disrupted.
ASA Applauds Introduction of Biodiesel Tax Credit Reform, Extension Act—ASA supported the work of Sen. Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Cantwell (D-Wash.) and the other 14 senators who in April introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the biodiesel tax credit to a domestic production credit and extend the new policy for three years.
ASA, Fellow Farm Groups Urge Appropriators to Adequately Fund FSA Loan Programs— In a letter to leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, ASA and a coalition of farm, food and rural advocacy groups encouraged lawmakers to adequately fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency to provide a robust risk management framework for farmers in the current lagging farm economy.
Soy Growers Oppose White House Budget— ASA signaled strong opposition to proposed cuts in the FY-2018 budget released by the White House in May, noting that the budget would shred the safety net, slash critical ag research and conservation initiatives and hobble access to foreign markets.
ASA’s Moore Testifies on Title I Programs before House Ag Subcommittee— In testimony before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, ASA President and Illinois soybean farmer Ron Moore spoke on the need for robust programs within the risk management framework of the nation’s farm legislation.
Williams Highlights Strengths of Conservation, Biobased Programs in Michigan Farm Bill Hearing— David Williams, a fifth-generation soybean farmer from Elsie, Mich. and president of the Michigan Soybean Association, told Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow and fellow committee members that conservation and biobased programs are essential to advancing farmer sustainability goals and establishing new markets and should be reauthorized and funded as the committee moves ahead in its work on the coming farm bill.
Wellman Calls on Congress to Address Ag Research in Farm Bill— In testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee, former ASA President and Nebraska farmer Steve Wellman called on Congress to renew American leadership in agricultural science, including full funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
Soy Growers Welcome Perdue to USDA— ASA congratulated former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue on his confirmation as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Trump Administration by the U.S. Senate, saying “The USDA plays the most crucial of government functions for farmers across the country, and we are glad that Secretary Perdue is finally on board.”
ASA Welcomes Lighthizer to USTR— Following a vote by the Senate to confirm Ambassador Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative, ASA President and Illinois farmer Ron Moore expressed congratulations and cited Lighthizer’s understanding of the important role trade plays in the U.S. economy and agriculture community.
ASA Welcomes Branstad as Incoming Ambassador to China— Following a vote by the Senate to confirm former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as the U.S. Ambassador to China, ASA President Ron Moore expressed congratulations and support, citing Branstad’s extensive experience working with China and the importance of the market for U.S. soybean farmers.
ASA Supports Doud Nomination as Chief Agricultural Negotiator— ASA supports President Trump’s nomination of Gregg Doud, president of the Commodity Markets Council, to be the chief agricultural negotiator under the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), citing his background as a farm policy veteran with a solid understanding of the vital role trade plays in the U.S. ag economy.
