Trade Top Issue for Corn and Soybean Leaders

Cindy Zimmerman

2011 commodity classicThe issue at the top of the list for the farmer leaders of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is trade.

“In the last marketing year, over 60% of the soybeans in the U.S. were exported, compared to 55% just a year ago,” said ASA president Alan Kemper of Indiana during a press conference on Thursday. That represented the equivalent of 1.9 billion bushels of soybeans, valued at over $21 billion, setting a record for the fourth straight year. “China again was our top customer for U.S. soybeans, importing over 25% of all soybeans grown,” he added.

“Given the importance of exports and market development to the U.S. soybean industry, ASA is urging the administration and Congress to maintain full authorized funding for USDA’s export programs,” he said. In addition, ASA is calling for the approval of pending free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea.

Also at the ASA press conference, chairman Rob Joslin of Ohio talked about the organization’s Farm Bill objectives and first VP Steve Wellman of Nebraska discussed an EU proposal that would disallow the use of biodiesel produced from U.S. soybeans.

Listen to or download the opening statements of the ASA press conference here: Commodity Classic ASA Press Conference

2011 commodity classicApproval of the pending FTAs was also one of the main issues NCGA president Bart Schott’s discussed during the corn growers press conference. “We were encouraged by President Obama’s mention of them in his state of the union address and we hope this means movement,” said Schott. “Frankly, we need quick action on these three agreements which have been languishing in Washington for years.”

Other important issues for NCGA are updating locks and dams on inland waterways for grain transportation and the review of atrazine by EPA.

Listen to or download Bart Schott’s opening statement here: Commodity Classic NCGA president

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