美国大豆协会－每周快报（2008年3月17日）

种子公司宣扬使用低亚麻酸大豆

据《得梅因纪事报》报道，孟山都公司和嘉吉公司上周联合开展了一次推介活动，劝说从内布拉斯加州到东海岸一带１２个州的农民种植孟山都公司的Vistive牌低亚麻酸大豆。Vistive大豆的反式脂肪亚麻酸含量低于普通大豆。

为了使用更加健康的食用油，２０个州拟定了限制使用高含量反式脂肪食用油的规定，２５个城市拟定了相关法令或卫生法规，２４个校区拟限制向学生提供反式脂肪配料或食品。麦当劳、肯德基、温迪（Wendy’s）及其它快餐连锁店也在改用非反式脂肪食用油。

这些限制使得那些本来就在关注豆价涨势的豆农更加动心了。分析人士表示，由于豆价高昂且玉米的种植成本也在上升，今年大豆的播种面积将会上升。

农业法案最新进展

３月１２日参众两院批准再次将２００２年农业法案延期至４月１８日，以便使法案起草者有更多时间处理那些持续了一年多的问题。由于国会即将进入休会期，因此当国会重新进入会议期时，立法委员已经没有太多时间了。事实上，除去休会时间，此次延期只给国会留出了１１天审议时间，其中众议院将花３天进行投票，时间从美国东部时区下午６：３０后开始。

目前正在商议新的农业法案，“拨款数额将高出基数１００亿美元，这一点已无争议，但关于如何补偿这笔支出，仍存在争议，”参议员查克∙格莱斯雷（衣阿华州共和党人）说。如果真是这样的话，那么拟议立法自去年年底以来所面临的一个主要问题就算解决了。

格莱斯雷确认说，即将召开的农业法案会议看来会批准符合参议院财政委员会主席迈克斯∙鲍卡斯（蒙大拿州民主党人）等西部参议员所要求的永久性农业灾害援助计划。但是至于农业法案要不要包含这项计划以及如果包含的话，拨款数额应如何确定，仍然是立法过程中难以解决的问题。

同时，众议院农业委员会主席柯林∙彼特森（明尼苏达州民主党人）、众议院农业委员会高级成员鲍勃∙古德莱特以及参议院农业委员会主席汤姆∙哈金（衣阿华州民主党人）上周在会谈后说，他们正在根据两项不同提议分配农业法案各条款之间的资金，其中一项提议建议分１０年将５９７０亿美元的农业法案拨款基数增加１００亿美元，另一项提议则建议不增加１００亿美元。

“基数法案”的说法引起了多方面的担忧，比如作物保险资金可能会减少数十亿美元，第一类商品权益条款下的拨款可能会因直接付款的减少而遭到障碍。

彼特森说，最好是在休会期间先按基数水平起草出一个基本的农业法案，然后当税款起草主席鲍卡斯、众议员查利∙兰吉尔（纽约州民主党人）及布什政府达成一致时再对基准数额进行“追加，”这样就不必浪费两周的复活节／春季休会期来起草一部基准数额更高的法案了。

阿根廷新的出口税方案遭农民抗议

阿根廷四个主要的农业团体３月１３日发动了为期两天的罢工，以抗议新的出口税方案，该方案大幅上调了大豆的出口税率。据道琼斯通讯社报道，CRA、FAA、 SRA及Coninagro这四个农业团体表示，他们已提议废除新税案，如果政府不予理睬，他们可能会延长罢工期。罗萨里奥谷物交易所也提议停止交易，以抗议这项其称之为“不合时宜的干涉措施。”

３月１１日阿根廷政府宣布了一项有关谷物及谷物产品出口税结构的全面改革方案。新方案采取滑动税率，即出口额越高，税率就越高。阿根廷经济部长马丁∙路斯提奥说，新税率执行４年。

根据政府３月１１日提供的每吨５３８美元的ＦＯＢ参考价推算，大豆出口税已从３５％上调到４６％。根据目前的价格推算，小麦和玉米的出口税大约下降了１个百分点。出口税的提高降低了国内谷物价格，因为国内价格是按出口价格减去出口税来计算的。

提高大豆出口税的目的是为了抑制国内其它作物耕地过多地用于种植大豆。

台湾取消大豆和谷物进口税

据《大众公志》报道，为了促进岛内经济，台湾于３月１０日起对进口谷物５％的营业税实行为期一年的免税优惠。免征营业税的进口谷物包括大豆、大麦、小麦及玉米，期限为３月１０日起一年。为了稳定岛内商品价格，台湾立法院通过了一项立法，授权内阁在进口商出售这四种商品时对其营业税采取灵活的调控措施。调税前，这四种商品的营业税率为５％。　

台湾财政部在一份报告中说，尽管这一举措会使政府税收减少９４５６万美元，但考虑到民生问题及岛内经济的总体发展，财政部仍将要求海关部门遵守这一措施。

由于美元汇率下跌且原油和黄金价格反弹，大豆类产品期价上升

由于美国汇率跌至新低且原油和黄金价格升至纪录新高，大豆类产品在３月１３日收盘时价格上升。但是，大豆和豆油期价在收盘时却接近全天最低点，其中大豆期价仅以一位数的升幅收盘。在前一天的交易中，大豆期价普遍呈现两位数的上升（除３月份和５月份合约外），豆粕期价也出现上升，但多数豆油合约价却随中国豆油期价和马来西亚棕榈油期价一起下跌。３月份大豆期货价格上升＄２．９４为＄５０９．６３，５月份上升＄２．８５，为＄５１５．４２，７月份上升＄３．０３为５２１．３０；３月份豆粕期货价格上升＄８．２７为＄３８９．１１，５月上升＄６．０６为＄３９２．４２，７月份上升＄５．１８为＄３９５．１７；３月份豆油期货价格上升＄９．９２为＄１３６９．０６，５月份上升＄７．０５为＄１３７９．２０，７月份上升＄８．１６为＄１３９５．９５。

The Soy Export Weekly Update

Companies Promote Use Of Low Linolenic Soybeans

Monsanto and Cargill started a joint recruiting campaign last week to persuade farmers in twelve states, from Nebraska to the East Coast, to grow Monsanto’s Vistive-brand low linolenic soybeans, according to a report from the Des Moines Register. The Vistive soybeans have less trans fatty linolenic acid than normal soybeans.

In efforts to use healthier oil, 20 states have proposed regulations restricting the use of oils high in trans fats, 25 municipalities have proposed ordinances or health codes, and two dozen school districts have proposed limiting use of trans fat ingredients or foods served to students. McDonald’s, KFC, Wendy’s and other restaurant chains are switching to trans-fat-free oil.

The premium adds an incentive for growers already watching soaring soybean prices. Analysts say high prices, plus the rising cost of producing corn, will prompt farmers to plant more soybeans this year.

Farm Bill Update

Both the Senate and House on March 12 approved another extension to the 2002 farm bill, to April 18, to give farm bill writers still more time to settle issues that have been around for over a year. When looking at Congress’ upcoming recesses, the extension will not offer much additional time while lawmakers are in session. The extension provides only 11 additional days when Congress is in session, and three of those in the House have votes beginning after 6:30 p.m. EDT.

In the ongoing negotiations on the next farm bill, “there is no dispute that the level of funding will be about $10 billion over baseline, but there is a dispute over how it will be offset,” says Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). If correct, the agreement removes one major hurdle facing the legislation that has been under consideration since late last year.

Grassley confirmed that it appears that the upcoming farm bill conference will approve a permanent agriculture disaster program that would meet the requirements of western senators, such as Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). Whether to include such a program and, if so, the level of spending that would be required, also has been a significant block to completing work on the legislation.

Meanwhile, House Ag Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), House Agriculture ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), and Senate Ag Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said after a meeting last week that they were working on allocating money among the farm bill titles under two different proposals: one based on adding $10 billion over 10 years to the $597 billion baseline for the bill and a second without the $10 billion.

The mention of a “baseline bill” brought a lot of concern that crop insurance funding would be sliced by billions of dollars, and the Commodity Title I funding would be crimped, likely via cuts in direct payments.

Peterson said it would be better to write the bulk of the new farm bill at the baseline level during the recess and “plus up” the bill if tax-writing chairmen Baucus and Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and the Bush administration reach agreement rather than waste the two-week Easter/Spring recess writing a bill at the higher funding level.

New Argentine Export Tax Draws Farmer Protests

Argentina’s four leading farm groups on March 13 launched a two-day farm strike to protest a new export tax scheme that sharply raised the duty on soybeans leaving the country. Dow Jones Newswires reports that the CRA, FAA, SRA and Coninagro said the strike may be extended if the government doesn’t respond to their demands to scrap the scheme. The Rosario Grain Exchange also recommended that trade be halted Thursday in protest over what it called “the unfortunate interventionist measures.”

On March 11 the government announced a sweeping overhaul of the export tax structure on grains and derivative products. A sliding scale was implemented with rates increasing as export values rise. The new taxes will be in place for four years, Economy Minister Martin Lousteau said.

The export tax on soybeans was raised to 46 percent from 35 percent based on the government’s March 11 FOB reference price of $538 per tonne. Based on current prices, the tax on wheat and corn exports decreased by about 1 percentage point. Increased export taxes depress domestic grain prices since the local value is determined by subtracting the tax rate from export prices.

The heavier tax on soybeans is designed to stem the rampant expansion of soybean cultivation at the expense of other crops.

Taiwan Eliminates Tax On Soybean And Grain Imports

Taiwan dropped its 5 percent business tax on grain imports for a year from March 10 in a bid to help its economy, reports The Public Ledger. No business tax will be levied on imports of soybeans, barley, wheat, and corn for a period of one year from March 10. To help stabilize domestic commodity prices, the Legislative Yuan has passed the appropriate legislation, which empowers the cabinet to flexibly regulate the business tax levied on the four commodities when sold on by importers. Previously, a 5 percent business tax was levied.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance said in a statement that although the move will decrease government revenue by $94.56 million, the ministry will direct all customs offices to comply with the measure in consideration of the people’s livelihoods and the nation’s overall economic development. 

Soy Complex Higher On Low Dollar, Rally In Oil And Gold

The soy complex closed up on March 13 reflecting a decline in the U.S. dollar to new lows and a rally in crude oil and gold to new record highs. Soybeans and soyoil, however, did close near their lows for the day with soybeans settling single digits higher. In overnight trade, soybeans did post double-digit gains in all but the March and May contracts with soybean meal also higher, but soybean oil futures were mostly lower along with Chinese soybean oil and Malaysian palm oil futures. March bean futures closed up $2.94, finishing at $509.63; May gained $2.85, closing at $515.42; and July was up $3.03, ending at $521.30. March meal increased $8.27 closing at $389.11; May was $6.06 higher, finishing at $392.42; and July meal closed up $5.18, ending at $395.17. March oil increased $9.92 to finish at $1369.06; May was up $7.05, closing at $1379.20; and July was $8.16 higher, closing at $1395.95.