In honor of today’s milestone 150th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Soybean Association (ASA) offers its congratulations and best wishes, and will participate in events commemorating the occasion in Washington, D.C.

"USDA has worked alongside soybean farmers for decades in the best interest of agriculture, developing international markets, fostering rural development, encouraging conservation, alleviating hunger, improving nutrition and enhancing food safety," said ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. "We at ASA salute USDA for 150 wonderful years of cooperation and service."

In addition to attending today’s celebrations at USDA headquarters in Washington, ASA joined with the National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, National Corn Growers Association and USA Rice in congratulating USDA in U.S. Agriculture 150’s commemorative publication The People’s Department: 150th Anniversary of the USDA, 1862-2012. ASA also added its name to a list of stakeholders from across industry in a letter to House and Senate leadership urging those in both chambers to recognize the contributions of the agricultural sector to the American way of life.

"For more than 90 years, the American Soybean Association has worked closely with USDA both in Washington and in the communities where our members live and farm to provide soybean farmers with the resources, solutions and services they need to be successful," said Steve Censky, ASA CEO and former administrator of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. "USDA was formed during a time of great national struggle out of a recognition of the vital role agriculture plays to feeding people and strengthening America’s economy. USDA keeps that focus still today, and ASA offers its warmest congratulations on 150 successful years. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with USDA for many more years."

More on USDA’s 150th anniversary celebration can be found at www.usda.gov/usda150.

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