In a letter to ASA members Wednesday, President Danny Murphy reminded soybean growers that there is still a great deal of policy work to be done, despite the House of Representatives’ rejection of the 2013 Farm Bill last week.

"[I]t’s time to chart our path forward. As farmers, we know our tractors don’t grind to a halt just because Congress does," wrote Murphy. "We owe it to our industry to re-energize, recommit and redouble our efforts to pass farm legislation that gives us the certainty and security we need to keep providing our neighbors at home and abroad what they need."

Murphy pointed out the aspects of the farm bill that directly impact soybean farmers, as well as numerous policy issues outside of the legislation that remain on the association’s radar screen. "[A]s farmers, we need risk management tools; we need access to new markets; we need sensible and science-based regulations; and we need the same technologies that our foreign competitors already have. Outside of the farm bill, we need to defend the Renewable Fuel Standard from arbitrary and unfounded attack; we need to ensure continued investment in the waterways infrastructure that helps us move our products to market; we need to continue to educate the misinformed on the vast potential of biotechnology; and we need to secure a seat for American agriculture at the table for negotiations with our nation’s largest trading partners."

Murphy then called on farmers to reconnect with their lawmakers—beginning with next month’s ASA Legislative Forum in Washington—and reiterate the importance of these issues. "Call their offices, go to town halls, write them letters, send them pictures, invite them to your farms," he said. "Connect with the people you hired and sent to Capitol Hill to represent you. Tell them what you need and tell them that they need to do better. If we can do that together—every one of us—I believe we can get this job done."