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Illinois Soybean Association Supports ASA Biodiesel Campaign

BLOOMINGTON, IL April 26, 2010— As Illinois soybeans farmers spend time planting this year's crop, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is joining the American Soybean Association (ASA) and encouraging them to make calls this week, April 26-30, from their tractor cab to promote passage of a retroactive extension of the vital biodiesel tax credit.

"Call Illinois' U.S. senators and representatives and encourage them to contact their party's leadership to push for a biodiesel tax incentive extension before the Memorial Day recess," said Ron Kindred, ISA at-large director from Atlanta, Ill., and ASA secretary. "Just take a few minutes at the end of a row while planting and call your elected officials in Washington to let them why it's important to Illinois soybean farmers to extend the biodiesels tax incentive."

All soybean farmers are urged to participate in ASA's C.A.B. Campaign: Call About Biodiesel. Contact the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with your senators' and representative's offices.

The biodiesel tax incentive, which is structured as a federal excise tax credit, amounts to a penny per percentage point of biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel. The incentive makes biodiesel more competitive with petroleum diesel, and lowers the cost of biodiesel to the end consumer. Since it expired on December, 31, 2009, biodiesel production and consumption has dramatically declined, biodiesel production facilities have closed, thousands of biodiesel industry workers have lost their jobs, and surplus soybean oil stocks continue to increase as a result of lower demand. 

"Illinois biodiesel plants are laying off more green collar employees every day that the tax credit is allowed to go unsigned. This just adds to our nation's and state's unemployment problems," said Dan Farney, an ISA farmer-leader from Morton, Ill.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, in December 2009, and the Senate passed its version of H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act in early March 2010. Both versions of the bill include retroactive extension of the vital biodiesel tax credit through December 31, 2010. The House and Senate must now reconcile the differences between the two versions of the bill approved by the respective chambers.

According to the National Biodiesel Board, the biodiesel tax credit allows the United States to reap the significant environmental benefits associated with the sustainable fuel, including:

Biodiversity:  Biodiesel is the most diverse fuel on the planet, made from a wide variety of oil and fat by-products of regional crop and livestock production. 

Regional diversity: More than 150 biodiesel plants support green jobs and green investment in nearly all 50 states, producing fuel from regionally available resources.

Carbon reduction: Last year, biodiesel's contribution to reducing greenhouse gas was the equivalent of removing over 774,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways.

Energy balance:  Biodiesel produces 4.5 units of energy for every 1 unit it takes to make the fuel, boasting the highest energy balance, and the highest energy content of any American-made renewable fuel.

"Please take a few minutes next week to make three phone calls," said ASA President Rob Joslin, a soybean producer from Sidney, Ohio. "Your two senators and your representative need to know that you care about this issue and how it impacts our economy and your profitability."

The Illinois Soybean Association is the statewide organization for Illinois soybean growers. The farmers on its board administer soybean checkoff funds to support research, promotions and educational programs designed to increase demand for Illinois soybeans, as well as administer legislation and membership programs. For more information, please visit www.ilsoy.org.

ASA represents all U.S. soybean farmers on domestic and international issues of importance to the soybean industry. ASA's advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary membership in ASA by over 22,500 farmers in 31 states where soybeans are grown.