The ASA Board of Directors met this week in Washington, D.C. to conduct their summer Board meeting. ASA committees met on Monday and the WISHH committee met Thursday. ASA hosted the Legislative Issues and Education Forum, sponsored by Monsanto, on Tuesday.

ASA President Danny Murphy welcomed participants to the forum, including ASA Board members and staff, state affiliate leaders and staff, representatives of the 2013 ASA/DuPont Young Leader program, and members of the media.

Rep. Steven King (R-Iowa) kicked off this year’s forum by providing an update on House consideration of the 2013 Farm Bill, which was passed just days after ASA’s DC visit. Next, attendees heard about the future of aquaculture from Maine Aquaculture Association Executive Director Sebastian Belle.

Following an update on United Soybean Board (USB) projects and research by USB Vice Chairman Jim Call, John Deere representatives spoke to the group about agricultural technology issues, including broadband access. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was the next Member of Congress to talk to the group, providing a U.S. Senate update on agricultural issues.

Cuban Ambassador to the U.S. José Cabañas Rodriguez took the podium to tell attendees about bilateral trade relations with Cuba, followed by a presentation on international trade from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Director-Americas Jose Raul Perales.

After an issues briefing update from ASA Washington staff, the farmer-leaders were ready to meet with their representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for top soybean-farmer priorities, which they did on Wednesday.

Rep. King, who serves on the House Ag Committee, addresses soybean farmers during the ASA Legislative Issues and Education Forum.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the first Ohio senator in over 40 years to serve on the Senate Ag Committee, speaks to forum attendees. (ASA photos by Cassandra Langley)