By a vote of 12-4, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill, referring the legislation to the full Senate. The American Soybean Association (ASA) voiced its support for the bill late last week, and ASA President Steve Wellman, a farmer from Syracuse, Neb., had this to say about the Committee’s action today:

"ASA is very pleased with the Senate Agriculture Committee’s work today, and throughout the Farm Bill process. As passed by the Committee, this legislation will serve the needs not only of soybean farmers, but of the entire farming community. The dedication shown by Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Roberts, and the entire Committee is recognized and appreciated by the soybean industry, and has resulted in a bill that not only provides important risk management tools and funding for export promotion, energy, biobased products and research, but also helps agriculture do its part to address the nation’s budget deficits.

"ASA is encouraged that the bill includes a revenue-based risk management program that is equitable between crops, and will partially offset losses incurred at either the farm level or the county level. Other key features of the bill include its consolidation of multiple conservation programs, targeting of conservation funding toward conservation measures on working lands versus land retirement, authorization and funding for the new Foundation for Food and Agriculture, full funding of the Foreign Market Development Program (Cooperator) and Market Access Program (MAP), and mandatory funding for ASA’s two Energy Title priorities, the Biobased Market Program and the Biodiesel Education Program.

"ASA again expresses its full support and commends the Committee for its work on this important legislation. We look forward to continuing to work with the Senate Agriculture Committee to enact an effective farm bill for American soybean producers in 2012 as the bill now moves to the Senate floor."

ASA represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA’s advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary membership in ASA by more than 21,000 farmers in 31 states where soybeans are grown.

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For more information contact:

Steve Wellman, ASA President, 402-269-7024, wellmanfarms@sbllcweb.com
Patrick Delaney, ASA Communications Director, 202-969-7040, pdelaney@soy.org