ASA, USDA, Companies Cooperate on Crop Program

March 13, 2000

The American Soybean Association, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Monsanto and Philip Morris are cooperating on a management and education program for land stewardship. Soybean pests, diseases and environmental management are the major program components.

Over the next 12-14 months, the environmental management and education program will be implemented in three phases. A "best management practices handbook" will be distributed in soybean production areas this spring through NRCS district offices, county Extension Service offices, Farm Bureau offices and ASA offices.

One feature of the handbook is a production diagnostic guide that producers can use to identify and treat soybean pests and diseases. The second phase of the program calls for a series of environmental workshop pilot projects beginning in November. Phase three will be in January-March 2001 and feature a series of regional "train-the-trainer" programs."