The American Soybean Association (ASA) is urging President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders to resolve the continuing impasse on raising the ceiling on the national debt.

"We need a comprehensive approach to reducing federal deficits and the growth of the national debt that includes all spending and that does not make disproportionate reduction in agriculture programs," said ASA President Alan Kemper, a soybean producer from Lafayette, Ind. "Such an agreement will establish budget certainty for all federal policies, including upcoming negotiations on the next Farm Bill."

Last week, officers of the ASA, National Corn Growers Association and National Association of Wheat Growers met in Washington to reiterate their support for a comprehensive approach to reducing federal deficits and the growth of the national debt that includes all entitlement programs and discretionary spending, and that does not make disproportionate reductions in agriculture programs. Yesterday, ASA and 33 other agriculture organizations called for the same approach.

"Any decision to reduce agriculture spending must allow the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to determine how the reductions are made," Kemper added. "These Committees have the expertise to best evaluate specific programs and to include any changes in the 2012 Farm Bill in a manner that does not disrupt long-term commitments reflected in current farm legislation.

"Agriculture continues to lead our national economic recovery and contributes to domestic and global food security. To ensure this role going forward, a rational long-term agreement on raising the debt ceiling that asks agriculture to only contribute reductions proportionate to its share of the federal budget is needed."