The American Soybean Association (ASA) today announced the launch of a unique environmental management and education program that will help soybean producers find profitable and effective solutions to meet today's growing environmental challenges. The program, called "Soybean Management and the Land: A Best Management Practices Handbook for Growers," is a collaborative partnership of the ASA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Monsanto Company, and the Shared Solutions Agribusiness Contributions Program of the Philip Morris Family of Companies.

"This partnership is an important step toward enhanced land stewardship on millions of acres of farmland," said ASA President Marc Curtis, a soybean, corn, rice, wheat and milo producer from Leland, Miss. "I thank Monsanto, Philip Morris and the NRCS for their support and vision about the benefits of this project. This program will provide growers with an opportunity to study their farm and decide, for themselves, what is both environmentally and financially feasible."

Carl M. Casale, Vice President and General Manager for Monsanto's North American Ag Business, said, "we're pleased to be a part of this very important program and believe it will be a valuable resource for U.S. growers. This program builds upon Monsanto's historical commitment to sustainable agriculture, and provides the opportunity for us to combine our efforts and work as a part of this partnership to take conservation-tillage and sustainable-agriculture efforts to the next level."

Pearlie Reed, Chief of NRCS, said, "I am pleased that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service could be a partner in this project. I commend ASA and the other organizations for their leadership in promoting good conservation. I know that everyone involved will benefit from this relationship, especially soybean growers."

The NRCS provided ASA with the services of a Conservation Specialist Fellow who worked in ASA's Washington Office for more than a year to develop this program.

The environmental management and education program will be implemented in three phases over the next 12 to 14 months. Development of a Best Management Practices Handbook is complete and will be distributed in soybean production areas of the United States during the spring of 2000 through NRCS District Offices, County Extension Service Offices, Farm Bureau Offices and Soybean Association Offices.

One feature of the handbook is a production diagnostic guide that producers will find extremely useful in assisting them in identifying and treating soybean pests and diseases. The handbook will be available as both a printed guide and electronically on the Web.

The second phase of the program calls for a series of environmental workshop pilot projects beginning in November of 2000. Phase three will run January through March 2001, and will feature a series of regional train-the-trainer programs.

Katherine Trent, Manager of Agricultural Relations for Philip Morris Management Corporation said, "The Philip Morris Shared Solutions Agribusiness Program is proud to be a sponsor for ASA's Environmental Management and Education Program. Sound environmental management is a growing challenge for agricultural producers and an important issue for companies seeking high quality, low cost ingredients for their food products."