Last week members of the American Soybean Association met in Washington with lawmakers and their staff, as well as officials within the Trump Administration, to advance soybean industry priorities. South Dakota Soybean Association President Jerry Schmitz says the state delegation talked about their priorities in the new farm and the need for additional funding.

He says they are also asking for funding to be restored to EPA so the agency can complete new biotech and pesticide product approvals in a timely manner. Schmitz says that line item in the budget was supposed to be $128 million.

Schmitz says they would also like some certainty regarding the direction of policy under the new administration.

To support exports they are also asking for additional funding for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program.