First-time ASA director speaks about Commodity Classic

Jordan Scott of Valley Springs, South Dakota was busy at the recent Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. For the former president of the South Dakota Soybean Association, it was his first time attending as an American Soybean Association director. “As a director, it is, yes. I’ve been coming for many years, but in this capacity, this is my first year as an ASA director,” said Scott, during a break at the recent annual commodity meeting and trade show, “and it’s great to be here working on policy that we’re going to be focused on going forward.”

Aside from Scott’s responsibilities as an ASA director, he points out that it’s a privilege to attend what he calls one of the best farm shows in the country. “It’s more than that though, it’s networking, it’s meeting with [government officials]. We just listened to a bunch of USDA administrators and higher-up people in that administration,” he said. “It’s really educational. You meet a lot of farmers from around the country; you really learn a lot of things. I think, as farmers, we get kind of tunnel vision and you only see your farm, but coming here it really opens your eyes to other crops, other farms, other issues that are going on that are really important.”

Jordan Scott’s primary responsibility falls on the final day of Commodity Classic during the group’s policy-setting session. “We basically make our document that tells us what to do up on Capitol Hill and in states,” explained Scott, “what we’re going to work on going forward for policy.”

The next major item for Scott and his father and farming partner, Kevin Scott, a former president and chairman of the ASA, is spring fieldwork following one of the snowiest South Dakota winters in a decade. “Yeah, I think we’re going to be sitting pretty good this spring. We still have a lot of snow on the ground in South Dakota, so it’s going to be a moist spring for sure. We needed it,” said Scott, referring to what he considers welcome precipitation after a major drought. “It’s not as fun to deal with during the winter, but it’ll be nice this spring and summer when we’re needing that moisture.”

The Scotts, along with many other farmers around the country, also think about the costs associated with putting that crop in the ground and growing it. “Yeah, inputs have been a struggle for a few years. Cost has been up and down and all over the place, and availability has even been an issue from time to time,” he said. “Luckily on our farm, we’re sitting pretty good, but I know there are struggles around the country. [The input situation is] something they’re always watching.”