The American Soybean Association (ASA) is urging congressional leaders to address the needs of American agriculture in today’s Conference Committee on emergency supplemental appropriations legislation for FY99. ASA is requesting that Congressional Conferees include $2.8 billion in additional income support payments to producers and language directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement a $1 billion concessional sale and donation program for soybeans and soy products.

ASA President Mike Yost, a soybean producer from Murdock, Minn., said "As Conferees consider current and projected low farm prices, ASA is requesting Congressional support for making an additional $2.8 billion in income support available to producers of 1999 crops through AMTA-type payments."

ASA believes a payment of 50 percent of the amount determined by the AMTA formula would be appropriate at this time, considering that the duration of low prices over the past year has prevented producers from locking-in acceptable prices for affected crops.

In addition, ASA is asking Congressional leaders to include language directing USDA to implement a $1 billion export assistance program for soy. ASA and the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) recently requested that USDA initiate a donation and concessional sales export assistance program to boost soybean prices and producer income and to reduce the cost of the soybean marketing loan program. ASA and NOPA have provided the department with a list of countries capable of importing specified quantities of soybeans and soy products valued at $1 billion without displacing regular commercial sales.

"Since soybeans are not included in the formula for determining AMTA payments, it will be necessary to provide equitable support for soybean producers," Yost said. "Facing even lower current and projected soybean prices, ASA is asking Congress to include funding for its export assistance initiative in the emergency supplemental legislation, or to obtain a commitment from the Clinton Administration to immediately announce and proceed with procurement and distribution operations for this program."