SEPTEMBER 28, 2023:
The American Soybean Association and all 26 affiliated state soybean associations are pleased members of the U.S. House of Representatives have batted down Rep. Victoria Spartz’s (R-IN) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a vote of 49 to 377. The amendment aimed fire at commodity checkoff programs and was vehemently opposed by the soy industry and others. ASA is the national group representing soy on policy issues, and likewise, state affiliates represent the 30 primary soy-growing states throughout the country. The soy policy organizations joined scores of other ag groups in a letter to House leadership earlier this week in answer to the amendment, vehemently opposing it.
Daryl Cates, soybean farmer from Illinois and ASA President said, “Congresswoman Spartz took aim at the entire checkoff system with no regard to the votes of those of us farmers who, time and again, have voted to preserve these programs that allow us to collectively promote our crops, conduct research, develop and protect markets, and assure domestic and global access. I speak for the soy industry today when I say, we are exceptionally pleased this strange amendment was snuffed on the House floor.”
The soy checkoff has overwhelming support from hundreds of thousands of soy farmers across the United States, as proven every five years when the program comes up for referendum. The last request for referendum was held May 2019: Only 708 farmers nationwide requested a referendum (there are more than half a million soy farmers in the U.S.), representing less than 1% (officially 0.13%) of all eligible soybean farmers. This fell far short of the 10% needed to prompt a referendum and demonstrated resounding support for the soy checkoff.
In place since the early ‘90s, the soy checkoff provides U.S. soybean farmers $12.34 in added value at the national level for every dollar they invest in the soy checkoff. Also determined in the soy checkoff’s 2019 return-on-investment (ROI) study:
- International promotion activities produced $17.95 in return value.
- Demand-enhancing research and promotion returned an average value of $18.18.
- Production research returned an average value of $9.42.
- Farmers received even more value through state checkoff activities.
Checkoff programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and overseen by the farmers and ranchers who vote in favor of checkoff systems to promote specific commodities. By promoting their agricultural products, checkoffs ensure future generations of farmers can build or maintain their livelihoods in agriculture. The soy checkoff’s self-imposed levy applies to all U.S. soybean farmers and is one half (1/2) of 1% of the market price of each bushel of soybeans sold each season. Those funds are used to build demand, find new markets, and improve the profitability prospects for all soy farmers. Soy checkoff dollars are split among the national organization and state checkoff programs, or qualified state soybean boards.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023:
In a letter sent this week (Sept. 26, 2023) to US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) alongside 129 leading state and national livestock, crop, and forestry organizations voiced its opposition to Rep. Victoria Spartz’s (R-IN) anti-checkoff amendment to legislation that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Spartz amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act attacks commodity checkoff programs, which are industry-led organizations that exist to promote agricultural products and support America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers.
“As a cattle producer, I am proud to pay into the Beef Checkoff because I know my $1 is doing more for our entire industry than I could do on my own,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “I urge Congress to stand with real farmers and ranchers over activists and reject Rep. Spartz’s attack on checkoff programs. Our future depends on the investments we make now, and the Beef Checkoff is the strongest tool we have to keep beef on consumers’ plates, strengthening the cattle industry today and for the next generation.”
Checkoff programs are administered by USDA and overseen by farmers and ranchers to promote different agricultural commodities. While the structure of each checkoff is unique to the individual commodity, checkoff boards all pool assessments from producers and use that funding to conduct research, raise consumer awareness, and build higher demand for agricultural products. By promoting these products, checkoffs ensure that future generations of farmers and ranchers can build a strong livelihood in agriculture.
The national organizations that signed on to the letter include the Almond Alliance, American Beekeeping Federation, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Honey Producers Association, American Mushroom Institute, American Sheep Industry Association, American Soybean Association, American Wood Council, Clean Fuels Alliance America, Corn Refiners Association, International Fresh Produce Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Christmas Tree Association, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Milk Producers Federation, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Pecan Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Potato Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Watermelon Association, North American Blueberry Council, North American Meat Institute, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Soy Aquaculture Alliance, Soy Transportation Coalition, United Egg Producers, and U.S. Peanut Federation. Additionally, 100 state organizations including NCBA affiliates joined the letter.
JULY 28, 2023:
ASA, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council and National Milk Producers Federation announced their joint opposition Monday to the Spartz amendment to the House Agriculture Appropriations bill attacking commodity checkoff programs. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), aims to prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from using any tax dollars to administer commodity checkoff programs. However, no taxpayer dollars are used in administering checkoff programs, which are funded entirely by the producers who pay into them.
The four commodity groups were also joined by 21 others Monday in sending a letter to the House Committee on Rules, arguing that the checkoff amendment is not germane to the appropriations bill and should not be allowed to come up for a vote.
Thursday (July 27, 2023), Rep. Spartz took the floor during a procedural hearing on the House Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 4368) to defend her amendment, where she repeatedly claimed commodity checkoff boards lacked transparency. However, each national checkoff program follows rigorous auditing and financial documentation required by USDA and the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
In a media release shared by the organizations and featured in Politico, ASA President Daryl Cates (IL) shared his surprise at Rep. Spartz’s amendment, especially as U.S. soybean farmers remain unequivocally supportive of the Soy Checkoff. “Just 708 of our nation’s 500,000-plus soybean farmers requested to vote on whether to continue the soybean checkoff during the most recent request for referendum back in 2019. That’s just over 1/10th of 1% of soybean farmers. That means hundreds of thousands of farmers continue to support the Soy Checkoff,” said Cates. “They understand the significant role the checkoff plays in developing and protecting markets for their crops, conducting research and promotion to sustain their livelihoods and the environment, and keeping U.S. soy available domestically and competitive globally.”
JULY 27, 2023:
Agriculture checkoff groups jointly announced opposition to legislation they say attacks commodity checkoff programs. An Amendment by Representative Victoria Sparts, a Republican from Indiana, would prohibit USDA from using any tax dollars to administer commodity Checkoff programs.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Soybean Association, National Pork Producers Council, and National Milk Producers Federation, along with the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, jointly voiced opposition to the effort. NCBA Policy Division Vice Chair Tim Schwab, an Indiana cattle producer, says, “Representative Spartz’s amendment targets programs like the Beef Checkoff and is a direct attack on America’s farmers and ranchers.”
The groups say the legislation is “frivolous” as “no taxpayer dollars are being used to administer Checkoff programs.”
USDA oversees 22 commodity Checkoff programs that boost demand for products like beef, eggs, lamb, cotton, blueberries, honey, mangos, peanuts, mushrooms, watermelons, dairy, cotton, popcorn, and even Christmas trees. Farmers and ranchers invest in these programs, and that funding supports agricultural research and promotional efforts.
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