The American Soybean Association (ASA) and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Board Directors, alongside staff, visited the nation’s capital to meet with legislators and to visit both the embassies of Taiwan and India.
The group met with five legislators from both sides of the aisle to discuss the upcoming farm bill, biofuels, and the overall importance of agriculture to our state and country. Representatives Mike Bost, Eric Sorensen, Darin LaHood, Sean Casten, and Mary Miller appreciated farmers coming directly to them to voice their vision for the 2023 Farm Bill and other agricultural policy issues.
“We truly value our ability to discuss policy issues that are important to Illinois farmers directly with our state legislators,” said Brad Daugherty, ISA Board Director and Government Relations Committee Chairman. “With the help of the American Soybean Association, we had the opportunity to talk through ways we can advance soy in the 2023 Farm Bill and improve the Renewable Fuel Standard to better represent soy-based biofuels to ensure it remains an eligible feedstock in renewable fuel opportunities,” Daugherty adds.
Andrew Larson ISA’s Director of Government Relations & Strategy noted, “Illinois agriculture is well represented in Congress and on the U.S. House Ag Committee. During our time in D.C., we were able to meet with four legislators, including Representative Mike Bost who just rejoined the committee. Because the Farm Bill is top-of-mind for the Illinois Soybean Association and the 43,000 soybean farmers we stand for, visits like this one are critical to moving our policy priorities forward and strengthening our relationships with key legislators.”
The American Soybean Association is among 400 farm and industry groups signed onto a letter this week shared with congressional leadership on agriculture’s budgetary needs in the 2023 Farm Bill. That letter sent to the chairmen and ranking members of both the House and Senate Budget Committees is a strong example of “united, we stand,” a phrase popular amongst the country’s founding fathers. Signees are hopeful modern leaders in the nation’s capital understand the value of agriculture and will take their needs into consideration when developing the fiscal year 2024 budget.
Categories: Illinois, Crops, Soybeans