Mike Steenhoek, of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) talks issues with the Upper Mississippi River system and infrastructure.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and state soybean association staff met in St. Louis this week for discussion of ASA’s strategic plan, important policy issues and sharing ideas for engagement and communication.

The annual State Staff meeting kicked off with ASA CEO Steve Censky’s presentation of the new proposed strategic plan, followed by a discussion and Q&A session. While ASA’s mission remains the same, advocating for U.S. soy farmers on policy and trade, the new plan allows states more flexibility in membership and ASA more resources to devote to policy work.

Tom Hance, from ASA’s Washington, D.C. office, along with Mike Steenhoek, of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) and Paul Rohde, of the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) provided an overview of issues with the Upper Mississippi River system and infrastructure and talked future plans.

Jason Berning, director of Central Region States at AstroTurf, presented on biobased products and emerging trends and growth potential. Hance, who introduced the session, said that as the soy industry faces issues hydrogenated oil and uncertainty with the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), the industry will look towards alternative markets through biobased products which includes carpets, textiles and more.

Sponsoring the annual meeting this year was ADM, FMC and Monsanto.  Both Rick Kesler, from FMC, and Mindy Whittle, from Monsanto, updated the crowd on what’s new at their companies and gave time for questions.

ASA Policy Communications Director Patrick Delaney presented on measuring legislative effectiveness and gave examples of tools that states could use to help manage their policy success and relationships with board members and lawmakers.

The meeting ended with state sharing presentations, allowing state staff to give examples of what is working in their states and take home some new ideas to implement.

Carol Balvanz, policy director of Iowa Soybean Association, and Becky Kinder, education director of Kentucky Soybean Association, both touched on engagement in their states.

Christine Tew, director of communications and public relations at Missouri Soybean Association, and Jayne Godfrey, communications coordinator of Illinois Soybean Association, provided overviews of different approaches to communications in their states.

Katie Glick, industry relations program manager for Indiana Soybean Alliance, and Nancy Johnson, executive director of Nebraska Soybean Association, talked about non-dues revenue generating activities for their states.