American Soybean Association producer leaders, voting delegates and other members convened at the fourth annual Commodity Classic to review and amend ASA’s Resolutions for 1999-2000. During an open resolutions session, voting delegates approved changes and additions that primarily revolved around trade policy, domestic market promotion, transportation, crop insurance, energy policies and conservation and natural resources.

Trade Policy

ASA called on the president and Congress to revise legislation to exempt sales of U.S. agricultural products from economic sanctions. (1.3.02) Delegates commended the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for work in expanding markets for United States agricultural products, including soybeans and soybean products. ASA recommended that federal funding be continued for foreign market development and maintained at an annual rate commensurate to increased sales needs. (1.1.07) Delegates also voted to support passage of Trade Negotiating Authority for use by the United States President in international trade negotiations. (1.1.08)

ASA commended the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the administration for the expanded use of P.L. 480 Title I and other concessional financing and grant programs to financial crises both domestic and foreign. ASA urged Congress and the Administration to aggressively support the P.L. 480, GSM 102 and other CCC export credit programs and initiatives to expand exports of U.S. soybeans and soybean products. Sufficient GSM-102 credits guarantees and P.L. 480 credits should be provided to maintain at ‘96/’97 levels U.S. agricultural exports to Asian countries, and at ‘98/’99 levels to the former Soviet Union. (1.1.04)

Delegates voted to support China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), but believes that China must join on commercially acceptable terms. ASA also supports extension of Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status to China on a permanent basis. (1.3.08)

Domestic Market Promotion

Delegates voted to urge the enforcement of antitrust laws and the Agricultural Fair Practices Act to fairly protect the economic interests of America’s farmers that may be affected by vertical integration and consolidation. (2.1.09)

Delegates also voted to support the 1996 Farm Bill or FAIR Act. (2.2.07) As State and Federal agencies develop flood control projects, it is vitally important that any damages caused to surrounding property owners be fairly compensated before public funds are made available for the flood control project. (2.2.08)

Edible Oil Content Labeling

Delegates voted to support exempting refined vegetable oil from any domestic or international labeling requirement based on allergenicity or hypersensitivity. (2.7.03)

Soy Foods

Delegates approved support of a health claim for foods and beverages containing soy protein. Also approved was the incorporation of soy protein in foods and beverages commonly eaten by consumers, including foods used in the school lunch program. (2.8.02)

Family Farm Continuation

As a way to encourage and protect farms staying within a family, voters approved recommendations that state and federal estate taxes on qualified agricultural assets be exempt if said assets are passed to heirs and remains in agricultural production for five years. (2.12.10) Voters also approved support of enactment of legislation establishing Farm and Ranch Risk Management (FARRM) accounts. (2.12.11)

Financing

Delegates approved the Farm Service Agency making sufficient direct loans and loan guarantees available to meet producer requirements for operating funds. (2.15.04)

Transportation

Keeping navigation and inland drainage as top priorities, delegates voted to support Missouri River master plan alternatives, including the replacement of Locks 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 on the upper Mississippi River and the locks on the Illinois River at LaGrange and Peoria with 1,200 foot locks. (2.5.05) In addition, delegates voted to support railroad modernization and expansion projects throughout the United States. (2.5.09) Also approved was support to amend the Jones Act to allow the shipment on the lowest cost vessels of U.S. agricultural commodities from one U.S. port to another. (2.5.12)

Crop Insurance

As a way to ensure that farming remains affordable, delegates voted to support Crop Insurance Program reform, specifically to increase subsidies at the higher levels of coverage so all producers can obtain affordable coverage for 80 percent of their crop based on actual historical yield. More specifically, delegates recognized that a more accurate and equitable rating system, responsiveness to multi-year disasters and recognition of producer history are important aspects of reform. Furthermore, the amendment supports expanded development of Revenue Assurance or Income Protection programs so all producers can manage production and price risk at an affordable cost. (2.9.02)

Energy Policy

Delegates voted to support implementation of rules by the Department of Energy that maximize displacement of imported oil by biodiesel blends under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. (2.13.03) The resolution supports use of biodiesel blends by 50 percent of the diesel-powered vehicles at the Department of Agriculture by 2002, and by 50 percent of vehicles in other federal agencies by 2004. (2.13.04)

Conservation and Natural Resources

ASA strongly believes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards to be counterproductive, and urges the EPA and state regulating agencies to conduct a scientific review of the impact of TMDL on agriculture and water control. TMDL allows cities and industries to degrade waters under low flow conditions, and forces farmers to be accountable for natural and point source pollution loads which they have no control over, according to the resolution. (3.5.09)

Also, delegates voted to discourage additional land acquisition by government agencies with the purpose of increasing wetlands and recreation without consideration of the impact to inland drainage, navigation and flood control. (3.5.15)