The American Soybean Association (ASA) said they have been informed that Secretary Schafer has signed a memorandum recommending that USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) conduct an audit and investigation of the National Soybean Checkoff Program based on the petition filed by the ASA on Dec. 10, 2008. ASA’s petition calls for an investigation of the United Soybean Board (USB) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to ensure that soybean checkoff dollars are being managed and invested as prescribed by law.
“ASA is doing what is in the best interest of soybean farmers ethically, legally and financially,” said ASA President Johnny Dodson. “Ignoring serious allegations of abuse or sweeping them under the rug would have been wrong and would have done a disservice to all soybean farmers who are paying the checkoff. Investigating and then correcting any problem areas is the right thing to do for U.S. soybean farmers. ASA hopes we will have a more responsive and accountable soybean checkoff as a result.”
Following a review of the allegations and evidence, the ASA Board of Directors voted unanimously on Dec. 9, to submit a petition to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Inspector General of USDA requesting a full and impartial investigation. The allegations of abuse are serious and include:
It is ASA’s understanding that Secretary Schafer and Inspector General Phylis Fong have discussed how best to proceed with the audit and investigation. A process will be established by the Inspector General’s Office on how the audit and investigation will go forward with the involvement of Inspector General staff and other USDA agencies.
“The filing of the petition was not about any disagreements that the ASA may have with the USB,” Dodson said. “There are good intentioned people, soybean farmers just like me, serving on the USB Board, but somehow there has been a breakdown in the system that cannot be allowed to continue. “In the meeting with Secretary Schafer, ASA emphasized that its concerns are directed at the operation and administration of the national checkoff board, not the state checkoff boards,” Dodson said. “The allegations and concerns of abuse that the ASA Board has asked to be investigated involve actions taken at the national level by USB and entities it has caused to be created.”
