August 2, 1996... Saint Louis, Missouri... The American Soybean Association and the US Feed Grains Council have contracted for representation in Vietnam to reinforce and expand market development activities for both organizations. ASA President John Long said, "Vietnam is a country of more than 74 million people who can benefit from US agricultural products. ASA's goal is to educate the Vietnamese feed and livestock industry on the utility of soybeans. We are joining with the US Feed Grains Council to reduce costs while increasing the effectiveness of our market development programs."
Representation for the two groups has been contracted with Hoang Van, a Hanoi-based firm. ASA Division Director for Asia Gil Griffis said, "Working together with a sister Cooperator will enhance the ability of both organizations to create and build a new market for US soybeans and feed grains." ASA has been marketing US soybeans in Asia for nearly forty years.
ASA's activities to expand international markets for US soybeans and products are made possible by producer checkoff dollars invested by the United Soybean Board and cost-share funding provided to ASA by the US Department of Agriculture. Additional funds are provided by various state soybean councils, including a significant contribution toward funding for programs in Vietnam by the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.
ASA is a national, not-for-profit, nonpartisan, volunteer, farmer-controlled commodity organization with 29,000 members that works to strengthen soybeans as an economically and environmentally sound cropping opportunity in the best interest of soybean growers and the public. ASA has affiliated offices in 26 states, and international offices in 12 foreign countries.
For more information, contact:
Gil Griffis, ASA Asia Division Director
Or, Bob Callanan, Communications Director
American Soybean Association
540 Maryville Centre Drive, Suite 390
Saint Louis, MO 63141
Phone: (314) 576-1770, Fax: (314) 576-2786