ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Soybeans, American's most valuable commodity, grew even more important in the 1970 s according to the American Soybean Association. “ Soybeans generated $81.7 billion to the U.S. farm economy in the last 10 years,” says ASA Chief Executive Ken Bader. “Soybean exports m the decade generated a positive $43.7 billion to the U.S. economy and trade balance. During the 19705, soybean production doubled, soybean exports increased four times and the total value of the soybean crop mcreased five tunes. The gold that grows JAMESWAY 8 Air Pressure Manure Transfer System Does hard work for you Whatever your herd size—50, 150 or more—let air pressure move manure to storage in minutes. It’s simple: your gutter cleaner, alley scraper or tractor scraper, delivers manure “as is” to a steel holding tank. A twist of your wrist then seals the tank; manure agitates and moves to the storage basin, as much as 300 ft. away, for later spreading. No rams, gears, reducers or delays. See us for systems and service that help make the good life better. AGRIEQUIP. RD4, Farmersville, Ephrata, PA 717-354-4271 I. G.’s AG. SALES Rt. 113. Box 200 Silverdale, PA 215-257-5135 ERB & HENRY EQUIP., INC. 22-26 Henry Avenue New Berlmville, PA 215-367-2169 DEPENDABLE MOTORS Hrney Brook, PA 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 How soybeans respond to potash has become America’s most important com modity.’’ The decade of the 70s brought many changes, including: Total value of soybeans mcreased from $2.6 billion to $l4 billion with soybean production doubling from 1.13 billion bushels to 2.27 billion bushels. Value of soybean exports increased from $l.B billion to $8 billion making it the nation’s largest cash export, USDA estimates soybean exports will reach 815 million bushels in the 1979-80 marketing year. Farm land devoted to soybean production in Junr HENRY S. LAPP RDI, Cams, Gap, PA 17527 M. S. YEARSLEY & SON SOLLENBERGER SILOS 114 E. Market St. West Chester. PA 19380 215-696-2990 HARRY L. TROOP Rt. 1 Cochranville, PA 19330 215-593-6731 TAM SYSTEMS CORP. creased from 42.5 million acres to 71 million acres. The number of soybean farmers increased by about 100,000 to 630,000. “As the only commodity organization representing the specific interests of soybean fanners, ASA’s growth paralleled the growth of soybeans,” Bader says. “The 1970 s saw the ad dition of seven new state soybean associations. Our membership increased by about 5000 farmers. Our support through the grower investment checkoffs in creased from 51,000 growers to about 466,000 growers. This tremedous growth has **X h i VP * 717-442-8134 RDI, Mountain Rd. Dillsburg, PA 17019 717-432-9738 \ > . N ,%S •• .?. Usw —^ ■■•■'■/■/ ROVENDALE SUPPLY RD 2. Watsontown, PA 17777 717-538-5521 RFD 2, Chambersburg, PA 717-264-9588 J. A. SWOPE Box 121, RDI Myerstown, PA 717-933-4758 DETWILER SILO REPAIR Rt 2, Newville, PA 717-776-7533 allowed ASA to greatly expand its market development, research, government relations and education programs designed to build and maintain profitability for soybean farmers.” Highlights of ASA’s growth during the 1970 s are: State grower investment programs, through which soybean growers invest a portion of their profits for research, education and market development, in creased from three states and 51,000 growers to 21 states and 466,000 growers. Market development funding provided by soybean growers increased from 5 3 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 9,1980—D19 $130,286 to $4,990,081. Grower funding of market development programs totaled $11,856,191 during the 10-year period. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service allocation for soybean market development in creased from $328,000 to $2,827,150. Total FAS funding for the 10 years was $17,464,144. The value of market development services provided by international industry, trade associations or government increased from $497,000 to $4,620,551. The cumulative value of these “third party” services totaled $24,257,870 during the 10-year period. ASA added six new in ternational offices in the 1970 s from which they ac tively promote increased demand for U.S. soybeans and soybean products. ASA now has 10 inter tional offices. New state soybean associations were formed in Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and the Mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) during the 19705. Growers and private in vestments in the ASA Research Foundation in creased from $l,OOO in 1970 to $364,850 in 1979. Soybean research investments for the 10 years totaled $1,379,847. “In the last 10 years, soybean growers have in vested just over $13.2 million dollars in ASA programs,” Bader says. “We believe their in vestments, guides by soybean grower directors, have paid handsome ATTENTION FARMERS AND TRUCKERS GO trailers are designed for today’s need on the farm, they can handle heavy loads and resist hard work. STANDARD METAL TOP STOCK TRAILER AS SHOWN ABOVE COMES IN LENGTHS OF 14 & 16 FEET. CHECK OUR PRICES BEFORE YOU BUY FISHER & STOLTZFUS TRAILER SALES Call 717-354-0233 or 717-768-3832 East of New Holland, PA dividends. The prices they receive for their crop have doubled. The percentage of the crop exported has in creased 10 percent to about 56 percent - soybean yields have increased 20 percent And the total value of the soybean crop is now five times greater than it was in 1970.” Bader says he is optimistic about the potential for soybeans and soybean growers in the 1980 s. “I believe the total value of the soybean crop will double and reach $29 billion by 1985,” he says. “Soybean yields will continue to improve thus increasing the profit-per acre potential for soybean growers. Exports should continue to expand because the world’s population needs the valuable protein and big quality oil contained in soybeans.” The soybean official, however, foresees potential roadblocks to continued soybean success. “The U.S. government has interfered with the free movement of soybeans mto world markets four times in the last 10 years,” Bader says. “The latest embargo is the first time food has been used as a political weapon. Such embargoes disrupt our markets and encourage our good international customers to look to other countries, such as Brazil, as a source of supply. “With hard work, I think we can overcome the disastrous effects of export embargoes by developmg (Turn to Page D2O)
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