Fresh off a record-setting Commodity Classic at the end of February, the members of the Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) Board of Directors joined the American Soybean Association (ASA) and state affiliate staff in Washington for the association’s annual spring board meeting.

 
This year’s meeting focused on several key issues at the forefront of the soybean industry, and brought in public sector officials from multiple agencies to discuss each issue with the board.

 
Sarah Bittleman, agricultural counsel to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, spoke to the board, highlighting the committee’s progress on legislation that would grant trade promotion authority (TPA) to the White House. The TPA is at the top of ASA’s priority list in the near term, enabling the administration to craft and finalize trade agreements that help to keep soybeans atop the nation’s agricultural trade.

 
In addition, the board’s Public Affairs Committee hosted briefings from staff at the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, the U.S. Biotech Crops Alliance, and the National Biodiesel Board on GMO labeling, biotech trait approvals and biodiesel issues, respectively.

 
Representatives from each of ASA’s 26 state and regional affiliates, including Ohio, visited with their offices in the House and Senate, while ASA’s Executive Committee met with Alexis Taylor, deputy undersecretary of farm and foreign agricultural services at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to discuss trade issues. ASA President Wade Cowan and Chairman Ray Gaesser joined Director Bob Henry and Kansas Soybean Association Executive Director Kenlon Johannes to present ASA’s Soy Champion Award to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas.

 
“Not all lawmakers in Congress really understand life on the farm,” said Bret Davis, OSA and ASA board member from Delaware County. “Therefore, it’s extremely important to recognize those allies that we do have. It was great to honor Chairman Roberts for his understanding of agriculture and OSA and ASA look forward to working with him in the future to protect farmers’ bottom line.”