The American Soybean Association is "your advocate" in Washington, and is powered by the grassroots support of 22,000 members and 25 state affiliates. 

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ASA Seeking Nominations For 2010 Awards
ASA Board Policy Briefing Now Online
South Dakota Soybean Association Elects New Officers
Hole In One Winner At Iowa Soybean Association Golf Classic
WISHH Holds Annual Meeting
Study Finds Soy Safe For Men

ASA Board Meets In Washington, Lobbies Congress On Key Soy Issues
ASA Writes Congress On Food Safety Bill; Meets With House Ag Committee
ASA Leads Farm Groups On Research Letter
ASA Supports PVOs In Food For Progress Proposals
House Considers Food Safety Reform
USDA Releases Impact Analysis Of Climate Change Legislation

USSEC Has Moved
News Of Soyfoods’ Health Benefits Spreads In Indonesia
A Rough Market In Japan Equates To Opportunities For U.S. Soy
ASA-IM Creates Consumer Demand For Soy-Based Aquaculture In India
ASA-IM Korea Promotes Off-Shore Aquaculture

This week on the Soy Radio Newsline listen to comments from ASA President Johnny Dodson, who talks about the ASA legislative priorities discussed at last week's Board meeting, as well as House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson's visit to the group. This report may be heard on SoyGrowers.com.

AT-A-
GLANCE

CBOT Futures 07/29/09

FAS Worldwide Weekly Sales Report as of 07/23/09
(1000 Metric Tons | Million Bushels or Pounds)

Settle

Net Change

This Week

Year Ago

% Change

SoyBeans

(09Aug) 1057.4

+3.0

32,142.3

1,180.9

29,006.8

1,065.7

+10.8

SoyMeal

(09Aug) 338.5

+6.6

6,175.6

13,586

6,532.6

14,372

-5.5

SoyOil

(09Aug) 33.07

-0.75

651.8

1,433.9

974.2

2,143.2

-33.1

ASA Seeking Nominations For 2010 Awards   The American Soybean Association (ASA) is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Special Meritorious Award, Lifetime Achievement Award (Membership Focus) and Lifetime Achievement Award (Association Focus). Nomination forms outlining eligibility requirements were emailed to the ASA Board of Directors, ASA State Presidents and ASA State Executives on July 24. All nominations must be in writing and received no later than Friday, Oct. 23, 2009. Send nominations to ASA Manager of Membership and State Relations Rita Hiscocks at rhiscocks@soy.org or fax to (314) 576-2786. Members of the ASA Membership and Corporate Relations Committee will make the final selection at the December ASA Board of Directors meeting in Saint Louis. The awards will be presented at the ASA Awards Banquet on March 5, during the Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California. In 2009, Bhima Vijayendran, Chief Research Officer at Battelle Memorial Institute, received the Special Meritorious Award. Gerry Hayden of Calhoun, Ky. received the Lifetime Achievement Award-Membership Focus and Darryl Brinkmann of Carlyle, Ill. received the Lifetime Achievement Award-Association Focus.

ASA Board Policy Briefing Now Online   The Board of Directors of the American Soybean Association (ASA) held its summer meetings last week in Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, during ASA’s annual Soybean Legislative Forum, ASA Washington staff John Gordley, Beverly Paul, Tom Hance and Tonya Kemp provided an update on ASA’s Legislative Priorities. Streaming video for dialup and broadband of this policy briefing, as well as updated background information on ASA’s legislative priorities, is now available on SoyGrowers.com.
 

WISHH Holds Annual Meeting   The American Soybean Association’s (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Committee held its Annual Meeting last week in Washington, D.C. Agenda items included: FY10 annual budget and Action Plan, FY09 3rd Quarter Financial Report, Strategic Planning and Election of new members and officers. Newly-elected and appointed to the WISHH Committee were ASA Board member Andy Welden and Qualified State Soybean Board (QSSB) representatives John Wray and Randy Van Kooten. Elected Officers were: ASA Board member Scott Fritz, Chairman; Roy Bardole, Vice-Chairman; Pat Dumoulin, Treasurer; and David Iverson, Secretary. Continuing At-Large Members include: Ken Bartlett, Jared Hagert, Karl Lawfer, Darrel McGriff, Tim Scates, William Wykes and ASA Board members Barb Overlie and Jack Trumbo. The WISHH Committee and ASA President Johnny Dodson would like to thank the following retiring WISHH Committee members for their many years of service to the WISHH committee: Roy Arends, Mike Clark and ASA Board member Dennis Jaeger. For more information about the WISHH Program, visit www.wishh.org.

Study Finds Soy Safe For Men   A new study published by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine finds that soyfoods and soy isoflavone supplements have no significant effect on male reproductive hormone levels in men. The literature review indicates that soy does not decrease testosterone levels. Led by Jill M. Hamilton-Reeves, PhD, RD, of St. Catherine's University, St. Paul, Minnesota, researchers assessed the effects of soy protein and soy isoflavones on measurements of male reproductive hormones. Findings, just published online in Fertility and Sterility, a publication of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, demonstrate no significant effect of soy protein or soy isoflavone intake on circulating levels of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin or free testosterone in men. The comprehensive meta-analysis examined the existing scientific literature including all clinical studies examining soy's effect on male reproductive hormones published before July 1, 2008. Fifteen placebo-controlled treatment groups with baseline and ending measures were analyzed. Thirty-two reports involving 36 treatment groups were also assessed in simpler statistical models. Studies published after July 1, 2008, which were not included in the meta-analysis, support the conclusions of the meta-analysis. Reproductive endocrinologist William R. Phipps, MD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center, a co-author of the analysis stated, "As a high-quality source of protein that is relatively low in saturated fat, soy can be an important part of a heart-healthy diet and may contribute to a decreased risk of coronary heart disease." He noted that some men have been reluctant to consume soyfoods due to concerns about estrogen-like effects of soy isoflavones, often referred to as phytoestrogens. But according to Phipps, "it is important for the public to understand that there is no clinical evidence to support these ideas. After conducting a comprehensive review of the existing literature, we found no indication that soy significantly alters male sex hormone levels." Men can benefit from soyfood consumption as a means to meet daily protein requirements and at the same time possibly also reducing their risk of heart disease.

ASA Board Meets In Washington, Lobbies Congress On Key Soy Issues   The American Soybean Association (ASA) Board of Directors met in Washington, D.C. July 20-23, to discuss key policy issues and lobby Congress for action on top legislative priorities this year. The meeting included a Legislative Forum at which ASA heard from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Republican Frank Lucas (R-OK) on the status of climate change, health care and food safety bills that Congress is working to complete in 2009. Peterson made clear that he would like to see the Senate make improvements in the climate change bill that passed the House last month. He indicated his staff is working with the Energy and Commerce Committee to exempt bulk commodities like soybeans from recordkeeping requirements under the food safety bill. ASA and state soybean association leaders spent a day on Capitol Hill to press their Congressional delegations for action on key biodiesel issues, including extension of the biodiesel tax incentive beyond 2009, reversal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s flawed Proposed Rule that U.S. biodiesel production causes indirect land use change that would disqualify biodiesel from eligibility under the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard, and correction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to exclude biodiesel plants in urban areas with populations greater than 50,000 from eligibility for payments under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. ASA also asked Congress to appropriate funds for key soybean priorities, including the soybean rust monitoring program.

ASA Writes Congress On Food Safety Bill; Meets With House Ag Committee   The American Soybean Association (ASA) and other farm groups wrote last week to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Agriculture Committee to express continued concerns about H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, passed last week by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Washington staff for the groups, including ASA Washington staff, also met with House Agriculture Committee majority and minority staff on Monday to reiterate these concerns. The group letter says, “We support Congress’ efforts in strengthening the country’s food- and animal feed-safety systems based upon sound science and a risk-based approach. Yet, H.R. 2749 contains provisions that would undermine our ability to provide a safe, affordable and abundant food supply. As drafted, this legislation would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) duplicative authority for areas that are already overseen by other federal agencies. Furthermore, H.R. 2749 paints the entire food supply system with a very broad brush… we feel strongly that the on-farm issues … warrant immediate attention and must be addressed prior to consideration of the bill in the full House of Representatives.” The bill currently requires each farmer to maintain production and sales records showing every buyer to which the farm’s products are sold (with the exception of products sold directly to final consumers or restaurants). The bill also requires the FDA to create a new food-traceability system under which the agency could track any food or feed contamination incident to its source within only two business days. This mandate could require producers to maintain a complete distribution history of where farm inputs originated and where farm-production outputs are sold. It is not inconceivable that farm records would need to be kept electronically and be interoperable throughout the food chain to facilitate traceability within two business days. The full House of Representatives will act on the bill soon after Congress returns from recess next week; the Senate has indicated it will not take up food safety legislation until after Labor Day.

ASA Leads Farm Groups On Research Letter   The American Soybean Association (ASA) coordinated 15 farm groups in sending an introductory letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Rajiv Shah, welcoming him to Washington, D.C. and expressing the group’s renewed hope in the direction of federal agricultural research under his leadership. Shah came to USDA from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, where he was Director of the Agricultural Development Program. The July 27, letter focuses on challenges facing agriculture and the declining share of public research and development funding spent on agricultural research. “This year the National Institutes of Health will spend $170 for every $1 spent by the USDA on competitive, fundamental research. This lopsided funding is of special concern since the very essence of life science begins with the food we eat,” the letter says. “Since 1990, annual yield growth rates for corn, wheat, rice and soy have fallen as compared to the prior three decades. During that same time frame, small-acreage crops, like sorghum and barley, dependence on public funds to accomplish their research goals has grown significantly. Animal agriculture confronts encroaching development and myriad disease threats. Land productivity growth rates have also steadily declined. We do not think it is a coincidence that this has occurred over a period when public agricultural research and development funding has experienced slower growth.” A follow-up meeting with Shah will be scheduled for August or September. Read the full text of the letter to USDA Under Secretary Shah.

ASA Supports PVOs In Food For Progress Proposals   The American Soybean Association (ASA) has written support letters for four private voluntary organizations (PVOs) that have requested soy products in their Food for Progress proposals. After consultations with U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service attachés and American Soybean Association International Marketing staff, the PVOs have decided to use soybean oil and soybean meal in their proposals for the countries of Pakistan and Honduras. Honduras has seen expanded demand for soybean meal since the Central American Free Trade Agreement was passed. If the Food for Progress grant is approved, the sales would help maintain the demand. The U.S. did not ship any soy products to Pakistan in 2008. This grant would bring U.S. soy products back into the country. Under the Food for Progress Act of 1985, U.S. agriculture commodities are provided to developing countries and emerging democracies committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural sector. ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) program works closely with PVOs. WISHH offers technical assistance and information on products like textured soy protein, defatted soy flour and soy isolates and concentrates.

House Considers Food Safety Reform   The House of Representatives narrowly failed Wednesday to get a two-thirds majority to pass food safety reform legislation, by a vote of 280-150. The bill, considered under suspension of the rules, needed 288 votes. At press time, the bill was expected to be offered again on Thursday under regular rules, where it would need only a majority vote to pass. The bill was written in reaction to recent outbreaks of food-borne illness due to tainted spinach, Mexican peppers and peanut butter. The American Soybean Association had previously raised concerns about some on-farm and record keeping provisions in the legislation, called the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. For soybean farmers, these concerns included provisions expanding the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) access to records. For the first time, upon request and presentation of credentials, a federal official would have had access to and the right to copy all records, including production and sales records that may be related in any way to food or feed safety. Speaking to the ASA Board of Directors last week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) said that he wanted to make sure that FDA would not inspect grain and livestock operations. Peterson’s negotiations with the House Energy and Commerce Committee yielded major improvements. The bill now limits trace-back for grains and similar commodities to the initial warehouse operator or elevator. Additionally, grain farmers are now exempt from on-farm record keeping requirements and safety standards. Livestock continues to be exempt from the House bill because it is regulated through other Federal laws. The Senate will take up food safety legislation following the August recess.

USDA Releases Impact Analysis Of Climate Change Legislation   On July 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its preliminary analysis of the economic impact to agriculture from cap and trade legislation. USDA concluded that the benefits of cap and trade legislation would likely outweigh the costs in the short term, and benefits would outpace increased input costs over the long term. In his testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee on July 22, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, "In the short term, the economic benefits to agriculture from cap and trade legislation will likely outweigh the costs. In the long term, the economic benefits from offsets markets easily trump increased input costs from cap and trade legislation. Let me also note that we believe these figures are conservative because we aren't able to model the types of technological change that are very likely to help farmers produce more crops and livestock with fewer inputs. Second, the analysis doesn't take into account the higher commodity prices that farmers will very likely receive as a result of enhanced renewable energy markets and retirement of environmentally sensitive lands domestically and abroad. Of course, any economic analysis such as ours has limitations. But, again, we believe our analysis is conservative - it's quite possible farmers will actually do better.” Opponents of climate change legislation responded to the USDA analysis by questioning some of the underlying assumptions used by USDA in their analysis. The criticisms suggest that it relies too heavily on unrealistic projections for decline in energy demand and assumes massive increases in energy efficiency; counts on allowances to reduce costs to the fertilizer industry that are uncertain; and relies on an unrealistic assumption of significant increase in nuclear power by 2035 that would require a doubling of nuclear power capacity, despite the fact that no new plants have been built in the last 30 years. The American Soybean Association (ASA) is reviewing the USDA climate change analysis along with other analysis that has been issued recently from entities such as the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute and Center for Agricultural and Rural Development. ASA maintains concerns with the impact that unilateral action on climate change will have on agriculture and the U.S. economy, and will continue to communicate these concerns to Congress and the Obama Administration.

USSEC Has Moved   Last week the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) moved its offices to Chesterfield, Mo., a western suburb of St. Louis. Please note their new address: 16305 Swingley Ridge Rd., Ste. 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017. The main telephone number will not change. The United Soybean Board and SmithBucklin are also currently moving into separate offices in the same building. USSEC would like to thank move team leaders Nelleke Weese, Lisa Conner, Ethan Brewer, Sara Streckfuss and Tara Ries for their hard work and attention to detail. Their effort allowed for a smooth transition.

News Of Soyfoods’ Health Benefits Spreads In Indonesia   The Indonesian Nutritionist Association of Gorontalo Province, in collaboration with American Soybean Association International Marketing Southeast Asia and Nestle Indonesia, conducted a Soy and Nutrition Seminar in support of the provincial organization’s annual congress. The event disseminated information on soyfoods, their availability and their ability to prevent nutritional problems and diseases. Nutritionists and other health professionals in the area transmit a significant amount of information on the health benefits of various foods to the public. With 175 nutritionist members in attendance, Indonesia Soyfood Program Manager Dady Maskar presented on “Soyfood Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Health and Nutrition.” The information he conveyed demonstrated to these opinion leaders the most current data on soyfood health benefits. Consumption of soyfood products, such as tempe, tofu and soymilk, remains low in Gorontalo Province. During the program, participants discovered the nutritional properties of soyfoods, its health and nutritional benefits, and the availability of traditional Indonesian soyfoods in their area. Indonesia is the fifth-largest customer of U.S. soybeans worldwide. In 2009, the country will consume over 44 million bushels of U.S. soy, with the majority of this used in tofu and tempe.

A Rough Market In Japan Equates To Opportunities For U.S. Soy   American Soybean Association International Marketing (ASA-IM) Japan Country Director LaVerne Brabant and Marketing Manager Masi Tateishi called on major food grade soybean traders, wholesalers and manufacturers to learn more about their needs and explore ways for the U.S. soybean industry to cooperatively promote the use of U.S. soybeans in Japan. The companies, located in the greater Tokyo Metropolitan area, include Toyota, Sojitz, Hanamaruki and Kikkoman. Customers welcomed news of increased food grade soybean plantings in the United States. Many in Japan face the challenges of economic recession, a shrinking population and high raw material costs. However, ASA-IM Japan staff sees a number of potential opportunities to capitalize upon market trends in enhanced flours, and dairy and animal protein substitutes. Data released by the Japan Vegetable Protein Food Association indicates the volume of soy protein in Japan reached historical highs in 2008. Increased production costs associated with the manufacture of food products is driving expanded use of soy protein. Textured vegetable protein consumption increased by 6.7 percent over 2007, and soy protein use in beer manufacture and dairy substitute shows significant promise. Japan’s protein industry expects demand for soy to continue expanding in 2009.

ASA-IM Creates Consumer Demand For Soy-Based Aquaculture In India   American Soybean Association International Marketing (ASA-IM) Asia Subcontinent staff participated in the Indian Fish Festival 2009, conducted by the National Fisheries Development Board, to present information to 200,000 participants on the effectiveness and safety of soy-based aquaculture for freshwater fish species. At the event, ASA-IM Asia Subcontinent Technical Manager for Aquaculture G. Ramesh and Technical Director for Poultry, Livestock and Aquaculture P.E. Vijay Anand convinced entrepreneurs to invest in extrusion feed mills and motivated fish farmers to use soy-based fish feeds. Staff also spoke to a broader consumer audience about the health benefits of adding fish to human diets. Presentations and materials put forth the idea of “soy-fed fish” and promoted the concept of eating fish grown using vegetarian diets. These messages increased the perceived value of soy-based animal feeds by fostering the idea that animals raised on a soy-based diet make healthier food for humans. The forum demonstrated the rapid growth of the soy-based fish feed sector to Indian government officials. ASA-IM projects the Indian aquaculture industry will require 350,000 metric tons of soy-based fish feed containing 30-50 percent soybean meal by 2012.

ASA-IM Korea Promotes Off-Shore Aquaculture   The Vision 21 Aquaculture Forum and American Soybean Association International Marketing Korea co-hosted a seminar on marine aquaculture practices. Specifically, the seminar suggested that off-shore cage aquaculture is a viable alternative to the currently dominant near-shore cage and land-based tank systems. The current model pollutes coastal waters and contributes to disease in fish populations. The first off-shore cages in Korean waters were set up near Cheju Island in 2005. As of July 2009, 19 total cages operate in this area. Through the forum, sponsor groups promote off-shore technology and soy-based fish diets that increase both fish health and growth rates while decreasing pollution.
 

The activities of the U.S. Soybean Export Council to expand international markets for U.S. soybeans and products are made possible through the American Soybean Association’s investment of cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, support from cooperating industry, and by producer checkoff dollars invested by the United Soybean Board and various State Soybean Councils.