The American Soybean Association (ASA) today expressed appreciation after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will provide assistance to producers of soybeans and other crops who suffered losses due to high moisture conditions in 2009.

"ASA strongly supported efforts by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) to compensate soybean farmers for severe quality and yield losses after the mid-South received record rainfall last August," stated ASA President Rob Joslin, a soybean producer from Sidney, Ohio. "This assistance will provide much-needed relief to farmers who will not benefit under the national disaster relief program (SURE)."

In its announcement, USDA indicated it will use Section 32 authority to provide up to $550 million to producers of soybeans, rice, upland cotton and sweet potatoes during the upcoming 2011 Fiscal Year. Soybean farmers in disaster-designated counties who experienced at least a five percent loss in 2009 are eligible to receive a payment of $15.62 per acre on land that was planted or prevented from being planted due to high precipitation or moisture conditions in 2009. The USDA also announced assistance of up to $60 million to poultry producers who lost contracts with bankrupt integrators and up to $20 million to offset higher feed costs to farm-raised aquaculture producers.

"ASA recognizes the critical role of Senator Lincoln in ensuring that soybeans were included in the Department’s disaster package," said Joslin. "We will work closely with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency as it proceeds to make payments available to eligible producers in advance of planning for next year’s planting season."