Dear Soy Family,

I hope this letter finds you after, or as you work through, a safe and successful harvest. I know it’s easy to get caught up in the politics of farming and to focus on how the trade outlook will affect decisions for next year, but harvest season always reminds me why I choose to be a farmer. And why I’m proud to be President of the American Soybean Association.

This harvest season has a lot of farmers wondering where their beans are going to go, and at what price. The entire soy family, from ASA to USB to USSEC, has been thinking about that too. Trade concerns remain top of mind. In fact, last month I traveled to China to attend the JCI conference where I provided an update on the U.S. soybean supply. What I found perhaps most interesting was that, out of 300 people attending, I was the only one providing a producer voice, though I certainly wasn’t the only one who had a keen eye on trade and how to resolve the tariff war between the U.S. and China.

I know many of you are also traveling on behalf of soybeans, and to each of you, thank you for taking time away from the farm to promote U.S. soybeans and work to build new market opportunities.

Looking ahead, we are still pushing for a new farm bill by December, so we don’t default to another extension. ASA will continue to work with you to urge House and Senate members to finish their negotiations so we at least have the certainty of a new five-year bill.

Thank you for your hard work supporting and promoting our industry.

John Heisdorffer
President, American Soybean Association