There Will Be No Soybean Referendum

May 12, 2000

The American Soybean Association says USDA has determined that a referendum will not be held on whether to continue the soybean research and promotion program. From 600,813 qualified producers and others eligible to vote, only 17,970 valid requests were received, says ASA, less than 3% of the total; 60,082 were needed for force a vote.

Producers certifying they produced soybeans at any time during Jan. 1, 1997, through Nov. 16, 1999, were eligible to participate in the petition for a referendum. An eligible producer, as defined by USDA, was anyone engaged in the growing of soybeans in the United States who owned or shared ownership and risk of loss of soybeans.

"Most soybean producers feel their checkoff is doing a pretty good job for them," said ASA President Marc Curtis. "ASA has found that producer support for the soybean checkoff increases in direct proportion to a producer’s knowledge of checkoff-funded activities and how these programs directly benefit soybean producers."

The association will continue to "reach out to those 17,970 people who did feel that a referendum should be called," Curtis added. "I’d be willing to take a look at their concerns and welcome an opportunity to tell them why I think the soybean checkoff is a tremendous asset that is building demand for our products."