The American Soybean Association (ASA) advocates policy changes that benefit soybean farmers. It has 26 state affiliate organizations and uses its influence to lobby Congress and influence narratives related to soybeans in the national media. ¹ It has shown public support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ² and the American Relief Act 2025 (2024 Farm Bill). ³

ASA has advocated for the stabilization of U.S.-China trade relations and a federal biodiesel tax credit as well as doubling the funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD). ⁴ It also runs the American Soybean Development Foundation SoyPAC. ⁵

Background

The American Soybean Association (ASA) advocates for policy and trade changes that benefit soybean farmers. It has 26 state affiliate organizations and uses its influence to lobby Congress and influence narratives related to soybeans in the national media. ¹

History

The American Soybean Association was founded in 1920 with the initial purpose of making agricultural processors agree to underwrite 50,000 acres of soy. In the 1940s, ASA “launched legislative battles to remove barriers restricting the sale of margarine,” to promote soybean production and exporting. ⁶ In 1956, ASA joined with the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to develop soy contracts in Europe and Japan, with ASA opening an office in Tokyo. In 1962, soybean farmers started forming ASA-affiliated state associations to deal with state legislation. In 1975, ASA started the American Soybean Association Market Development Foundation. ⁶

In 1984, ASA opened an office in Caracas, Venezuela to advocate for American soy in South America, and in the later 1980s, it started a truth-in-labeling campaign to increase the use of domestic soybean products instead of tropical plants. In 1991, ASA successfully lobbied for a national soybean checkoff which required all soybean farmers to give a portion of their profits to the United Soybean Board, with oversight from the USDA, for research and promotion of American soy. ⁶

Areas of Concern

The American Soybean Association has shown public support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ² and the American Relief Act 2025 (2024 Farm Bill). ³ ASA has advocated the stabilization of U.S.-China trade relations and a federal biodiesel tax credit as well as doubling the funding for the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD). ⁴ It also runs the American Soybean Development Foundation SoyPAC. ⁵

Trade

ASA is an advocate for international trade of American soybeans and soy products. It advocates for the removal of tariffs China set on U.S. soy industry as a result of U.S. tariffs on products from China. It supports the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and expects the United State Trade Representative to expand soy markets in new countries. ASA also advocates for the federal government to double the amount of tax dollars it invests in the Foreign Market Development Program and the Market Access Program. ⁴

Biofuel

As of 2025, ASA was pushing for a federal biodiesel tax credit to “keep biofuels competitive in U.S. fuel markets.” ⁷ It supports increasing the Renewable Fuels Standards volume requirements for biomass-based diesels, stating that it will provide a market for surplus soy oil. As a result of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program was moved from mandatory funding. In 2025, ASA was advocating for making the program’s funding mandatory again. ⁷

Transportation

ASA advocates for increased funding to the United States inland waterways, stating that they are the most cost-effective way to transport agricultural products. It specifically supported the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, which was passed by the Biden administration in 2021. It also supports increasing the amount of federal tax dollars being put into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund projects and wants the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program budget to be maintained. ²

Farm Policy

ASA supported the American Relief Act 2025, which was enacted under the Biden administration in December 2024. ASA supported the Act because it gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture $10 billion to use on the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. It also supports increasing funding for crop insurance programs such as the Title I farm safety net and maintaining the farmer-financed soybean checkoff program. ³

1. “About American Soybean Association.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/about/.
2.  “Transportation & Infrastructure.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/key-issues-initiatives/key-issues/transportation/.
3. “Farm Policy.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/key-issues-initiatives/key-issues/farm-policy/.
4. “World Trade & Soy.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/key-issues-initiatives/key-issues/trade/.
5. “SoyPAC.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/soypac/.
6.  “ASA Timeline.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/about/timeline/.
7. “Biofuels.” American Soybean Association. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://soygrowers.com/key-issues-initiatives/key-issues/biodiesel/.