ASTA's 125th Annual Convention
June 21 – 25, 2008, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL

Welcome | General Info | Hotel Information | Schedule | Speakers | Conference Registration | Registration Prices
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125 Years of ASTA

“The key benefit of our membership in the ASTA is the ability to join the U.S.A. Seed Industry in a common voice to governments, other trade associations and the numerous global political organizations that influence our business. This unified force is much more powerful than any single company.  

Another key benefit of being part of the ASTA is the opportunity to help set industry guidelines and best practices on the important issues of the day including intellectual property rights protection, product stewardship, plant and seed health and international trade.”

Mike Gumina
VP Supply Management
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
A Dupont Company

“Why I value my ASTA membership:

I tell every new ASTA member I meet how ASTA membership helps my small business:

• it makes my company credible in the eyes of my customers because membership indicates commitment to the industry;
• it significantly reduces my marketing expenses by giving me affordable access to ASTA conventions where I can meet many of my customers;
• it facilitates sales because regular meetings at the conventions increase personal trust;
• it expands sales through the greater understanding of the industry I gain at conventions.

I add that volunteering my time to serve ASTA enhances the image of my company in the industry and strengthens ties with customers.”

Francois Korn
Owner
SeedQuest

“My membership in ASTA has provided me with the opportunity to meet with many different seedsmen over the years from all different levels in the industry. As these opportunities arose, my thought processes have widened and enabled me to develop my business in ways to better serve my suppliers as well as my customers. Keithly-Williams Seed has evolved and grown due in large part to the associations and friendships that have developed from my membership in ASTA.”

Kelly Keithly
President
Keithly-Williams Seed

“What ASTA means to Becker Underwood:

The American Seed Trade Association has been an integral part of Becker Underwood’s success by providing a forum to communicate with our customers within the seed industry. Looking at all the opportunities we have enjoyed through the years, ASTA Conventions have always been a centerpiece for meetings with customers, suppliers and those allied to the seed industry. They have also provided an educational format to keep up with all the happenings and technological advances in the seed industry. We are very pleased to be a member and participate in the American Seed Trade Association.”

Bill Romp
Seed Enhancements Business Unit Manager
Becker Underwood

“ASTA:

Represents all aspects of the seed industry at the state, national and international level to improve or protect the seed business environment for all regardless of business size, geographical reach or species developed or sold if they are ASTA members or not.

Creates a stimulating environment for industry members to conduct their business at the annual, December and January meetings by bringing in highly regarded, talented and knowledgeable speakers and hosting these events in environments conducive to doing business.

Provides opportunity for individual members to share knowledge, develop professional relationships and provide leadership through the committee, division and board structure.

Provides educational and development opportunities for members at all levels of leadership through the FuSE and management skills events.

Provides a reliable source of seed related information for all publics, government at all levels and the regulatory authorities.

Personally, ASTA has provided an opportunity for me to give back to an industry where I have worked and made friends for a lifetime.”

Don Wertman
Chief Operating Officer
Seedway

“AgriCapital is a proud member of ASTA and have been members for almost the 25 years of our existence. It is one of many agribusiness trade organizations that we belong to. ASTA is an extremely well managed organization that keenly looks after the interests of its members. As a provider of investment banking services to agribusiness we attend all of ASTA’s conferences as we find these to be a most efficient way to keep up on industry developments and to maintain our contacts and networks. First the Seed, and ASTA is first in our books.”

Rurik B. ("RB") Halaby
Chairman
AgriCapital Corporation

“Mid-West Seed Services (MWSS) has been a proud member of ASTA for 14 consecutive years. Our company participates primarily as a vendor to the seed industry with exhibits at 3 of the 4 ASTA meetings held annually. Membership has awarded us lower exhibiting fees, member and chairperson participation on ASTA committees and best of all, networking with professionals and vendors throughout the industry.  On the people side, involvement with ASTA allows you and your staff to grow professionally in leadership and business skills. ASTA involvement, no doubt, has contributed to the success of MWSS and many other seed businesses.”

Tim Gutormson
President
Mid-West Seed Services

“It is difficult to find a few key words to describe the value ASTA provides for the seed industry and to our organization. LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM. INTEGRITY. VIGILANCE. Those come to mind quickly to help describe ASTA. The Indiana Crop Improvement Association has been an ASTA member for 46 years. The opportunities provided with that membership have been invaluable. ASTA creates opportunities for information, education, networking, and more. We look forward to the next 46 years!”

Larry Svajgr
Executive Director
Indiana Crop Improvement Association

ASTA has long provided a congenial setting to interact with members of industry. This interaction can involve an exchange of ideas and a discussion of current issues impacting the seed trade or it can simply facilitate the art of a deal.

Specific actions taken by ASTA as an organization appreciated by The Scotts Company include its support for the Biotech regulatory process, its efforts to support RUSSL, and its vigilance on a host of state and local preemption measures. In 1994, ASTA brought a discussion of the Federal Seed Act to its members and provided a forum to discuss and defend the benefits of plant variety protection and other intellectual property issues. Largely through the efforts of ASTA, many voices were able to contribute thoughts that otherwise would not have helped to shape the current Federal Seed Act.

ASTA is an organization of member seed trade companies. The views and opinions of each are welcomed and accommodation is made so that every voice can be heard. Though The Scotts Company is a large turfgrass company, turfgrass is often considered a minor component of the overall seed industry. As I have seen over and over, large or small, the ASTA provides a seat at the table for all to participate in the decisions that shape our industry.

Kevin Turner
Senior Director, Seed Research and Procurement
The Scotts Company

ASTA promotes the development of better seeds for producing better crops for better quality of life. Collective leadership from members and professional staff solve industry barriers and trade problems while creating opportunities for the greater good of members and agri-life stakeholders.

Thank you ASTA for allowing me over 40 years of ASTA networking which has produced numerous valued friendships, successes and favorable life experiences. ASTA has helped me in pursuing a career in doing something I love to do that is worth doing.

Nathan Boardman
President
Crosbyton Seed Co.

ASTA is an outstanding organization that continually protects, defends and promotes the seed industry to all organizations, both public and private that relate to, affect, or have the ability or desire to impact our industry. They are our "watch dogs" on issues that have or can affect the seed industry alerting membership and the industry at large to potential issues.

Additionally, they offer opportunities for the seed industry leadership to meet and discuss pertinent information about the seed business and create a forum for personal and professional interaction and friendships.

GROWMARK FS is proud to be a member of ASTA.

Marty Dunton
Seed Business Manager
Growmark FS, LLC.

Condor Seed has been a member of ASTA since the company began in 1985 and we consider our membership an essential part of our success as a vegetable and herb seed production company. It provides us as a small company a “big voice” concerning seed related issues and is a great resource to help solve government related problems with our business.

The biggest single benefit is that ASTA provides us a forum to meet and do business with our customers and suppliers. The ASTA Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference in January is a most important meeting for our company’s business. Without it, it would be difficult to meet with many of our business associates face to face.

We use the ASTA summer meeting to catch up on issues facing segments of the seed industry with which we are not involved and also as a seminar or training session to help formulate new ideas to keep our company vibrant and successful.

Lastly, ASTA affords a unique opportunity for an individual to serve the seed industry by becoming involved, and even in this situation I believe one gains more than he gives.

Tom Tolman
General Manager
Condor Seed Production, Inc.

ASTA has provided JGL a venue to network, impact industry positions, learn from great business leaders, and grow our business. In addition, we have formed friendships that go beyond business. On a personal level, I have been able to see the world because of ASTA. Our family vacations growing up were quite often built around the summer convention. In essence, ASTA has been a positive experience for me professionally and personally.

Bryan Gerard
President
JGL Inc.

My membership in ASTA has allowed me to stay informed and have a better understanding of the many issues involving the seed industry, member companies and associate members. Because of this interaction with members, I can have an improved focus, as a patent & trademark attorney, on current problems and potential solutions. Being a member of ASTA has been a very rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Bob Jondle
President
Jondle & Associates

ASTA is our on-going connection to the broader seed industry. As a small company we can very effectively interact with a wide range of other companies both large and small. Our company benefits by receiving greater recognition and credibility within the industry by our attendance and participation in ASTA activities. In addition we are better able to keep abreast of governmental issues, new technologies and new products. We highly recommend ASTA membership to others.

David Froese
President
Colorado Seeds, Inc.

When Buckhorn was new to the industry, the ASTA was invaluable in introducing us to the seed markets we were trying to serve. The Seed Expo in December and the Annual Convention were the places we met the industry and its leaders.

Now that we have been around for a while, we continue to participate in both venues to maintain those contacts, to strengthen our relationships, and to learn about the issues facing our customers. We are also able use the resources and contacts within the ASTA to investigate potential applications for our other products beyond those develpoped specifically for crop seed.

We intend to participate for a long time to come.

Rick Brasington
Food Market Manager
Buckhorn

ASTA Membership has been a very positive experience for me personally to meet and connect with key industry participants. I have met and developed close business and personal relationships with many peers in the seed industry.

For Dow AgroSciences, the benefit of our membership in the ASTA organization is the ability to participate with other members of the Seed Industry in a unified voice to governments, other trade associations and the numerous global political organizations to support and promote our industry.

Tom Wiltrout
Global Strategy Leader, Seeds
Dow AgroSciences

I find ASTA beneficial because it provides the opportunity to meet with our fellow seedsmen in group settings thereby saving time and money which is imperative to everyone in this volatile economy.

We can utilize our time meeting with current as well as prospective customers putting names and faces together verses a voice on the phone, in addition to being a great way to fellowship and become acquainted on a personal level.

The added benefits of the committee planned meetings are so vast we learn a great deal of information in a short period of time. I feel that makes ASTA valuable to all members.

Carol Reef
President
SMART SEEDS, INC

My participation in ASTA has been one of the most valuable tools in guiding my business. As a small seed company executive having the opportunity to learn from the "giants" of the seed industry has been amazing and profitable. ASTA is a real guiding light for our business.

ASTA has provided experiences in the total seed world that has really stretched and challenged my skills. It has been great fun.

The wonderful ASTA people I have met and worked with over these many years have truly enriched my personal and corporate life.

John Gerard
President
ACCESS Plant Technology, Inc.

Perhaps the single most valuable benefit of ASTA membership is the opportunity to develop personal relationships with the people of the industry represented by ASTA members and associates.

Twelve years ago as Seed Today was making its debut, ASTA served as a source of information and provided opportunities for us to become acquainted with the seed industry, its people and its issues.

We are honored that beginning with the first issue of Seed Today, every ASTA Chairman has written an "According to ASTA" column to communicate with the entire seed industry.

Thank you, ASTA, for your support. ASTA membership is a win-win relationship-the more you give, the more you receive.

Deb Coontz, Publisher
Joe Funk, Editor
Seed Today

When I joined Sakata I was relatively new to the seed industry having come from the produce and processed foods sectors, so I was personally interested in learning more about the issues impacting the seed business and learning more about other seed sectors. Attending ASTA meetings and volunteering for an open committee position proved to be a great personal learning experience.

As I increased my participation and contributions, I was able to increase awareness of Sakata and our product lines and make many beneficial contacts for my company. Finally, my wife and I have met many wonderful people and have made lasting friendships through ASTA – not just from the vegetable and flower seed sector, but other sectors and divisions, and from other states and countries. On all levels it can be win, win, win!

Paul Bennett
President
Sakata Seed America

The industry exposure and relationships I formed through ASTA greatly helped my small company grow from a regional distributor to a global supplier. The connections and knowledge that I gained from my contact with the “big boys” were invaluable.

John Zajac
Past ASTA President

The ASTA has given our company the opportunity to voice our opinions as a stakeholder of the American seed industry. The other great benefit is in developing meaningful relationships with individuals that represent our suppliers and with fellow seedsmen. As a distributor of seed we do have competitors but there are a lot of dealers that we do not compete with due to territory or crop differences and our relationships with these companies have given us the opportunity to share ideas to the betterment of both companies. The key to attaining such value is being involved at meetings and with the ASTA organization.

Wayne Gale
President
Stokes Seeds

I came to ASTA membership in 2002. ASTA has been for me the essential vector to discovering the American seed industry and the United States too.

Participating each year in ASTA meetings, notably the Seed Expo and Vegetable & Flower Conference, I was able to develop high level contact and communicate on the originality of our products and skills to ASTA members.

The warm welcome given over these years by ASTA members and ASTA staff has allowed me to persevere, enabling us establish our first direct customer in United States in 2008.

Frederic Royer
President & co-Founder
Doriane

The ASTA is truly a "full service" organization. Since my first employment in the seed industry, I have been involved in ASTA conventions, committees, sub-committees and other related ASTA activities. The organization provides opportunities for social interactions, business connections, business updates, an understanding of the political issues surrounding our industry, and many more benefits that would require a prohibitive list for this space.

Not least, the ASTA has provided opportunities to meet and learn from other successful seedsmen and to communicate with the best seed related experts in the world. Its benefits accrue to companies and individuals alike. The ASTA is clearly the one "must" organization for seedsmen and those related to the seed industry.

Irv Parker
President
Cornland Consulting, LLC

When one thinks of the value of ASTA, the word ‘Integrity’ immediately comes to mind. The ASTA association has always upheld the highest value and traditions of business for itself, its membership, and those who interface with the US Seed Industry. This integrity permeates throughout the membership in a manner that all associated with the US Seed Industry are proud to be counted as peers.

The Association offers opportunity for younger associates to interface with seasoned seedsmen in a forum that allows intellectual curiosity to flourish while concurrently setting an expectation for a code of business conduct.

The Association has a rich history of bridging gaps for orderly and timely commercialization of new concepts and technologies that allow US producers to maintain a competitive advantage globally. ASTA committees and initiatives form a conduit for involvement of membership’s issues and commercialization speed-bumps pertaining to legal and regulatory affairs, pipeline partners/associates, as well as foreign or counter-season trade issues. An example of this includes the ASTA Farm Program Eligibility Initiative that kept producers who elected to grow the nation’s agronomic seed crops on parity for program participation with other producers. Expulsion from USDA Farm Program benefits would negatively impact the seed industry’s ability to secure the nation’s top producers to grow seed as well as negatively impact crop rotational planning and, thus, quality/cost.

The value of this Association is the power of a single harmonized voice that places the seed industry’s interest first and foremost -- not only for today, but into the foreseeable future.

Congratulations to ASTA on its 125 years of fine tradition and outstanding leadership.

John Nelsen
President/CEO

Alan Ostercamp
Vice President, Foundation Seed
RiceTec, Inc.

STA Laboratories has been an associate member of the ASTA since our founding in 1987. Although, we are a supplier to the seed industry, we have always felt that our interests were represented and acted on appropriately by the ASTA staff. Our company has benefited in many ways by this membership and we hope that our contributions through committee work and international trade missions have had value to the ASTA and their seed industry members, too.

Opportunities to enhance our seed services to the industry would be the best way to describe the value of our ASTA membership. There are four conventions held annually that help us effectively meet with our clients and prospective clients. Additionally, ASTA gives us the opportunity to learn about the seed industry’s concerns and ever changing landscape. There has been more than one time that STA has adjusted its services or products based on information learned at these conventions.

Another value of our membership is resources! The professional staff of ASTA is second to none, when it comes to their knowledge of worldwide trade and US regulation. Their staff has helped guide our business to the appropriate regulatory person to ensure our compliance or helped simplify the overwhelming government framework! ASTA provides forums, workshops, training that help our continual improvement objective. Additionally, they helped establish the National Seed Health System, actively participate in official seed agencies and are working toward a centralized accreditation system for enhancement of all seed tests which should benefit worldwide trade. These are all items that are important to our business and it is refreshing to be able to speak as one unified voice through the ASTA.

Darrell Maddox
President
STA Laboratories