ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S. — The American Soybean Association (ASA) on July 26 said that it is pleased that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has completed its review and found that the soybean checkoff is operating as it should.

When whistleblowers presented significant allegations of abuse, the ASA board of directors had a fiduciary responsibility to ask that the allegations be investigated in the best interests of soybean farmers. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture agreed that an OIG investigation was warranted.

Substantial management and board changes have been made at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) after ASA asked for an OIG investigation. The now former USSEC CEO was placed on administrative leave and the board of directors has been restructured. As a result of the significant leadership and management changes that have been made at USSEC, ASA said it believes soybean farmer interests are being better served.

Soybean farmers benefit from a strong policy organization in ASA and its state affiliates, working for them on legislative and regulatory issues, as well as from a soybean checkoff working at the national and state levels, ASA said. ASA supports the continuation of the national soybean checkoff because it believes the checkoff provides needed resources to expand demand for U.S. soybeans and products.