Seed E-News

February 9 , 2007

Welcome to ASTA's electronic newsletter for members, allies and stakeholders. Please feel free to forward Seed E-News to others you believe might wish to receive news about the seed industry. ASTA respects your privacy and does not share this mailing list with other parties. If you have received this publication in error, you may unsubscribe at the end of this page. Questions, comments and your industry news are welcome — contact Lisa Dry at ASTA.

Past issues can be viewed here .

Quick Links
• FuSE Educational Unit at Dow Agrosciences & Purdue University on March 30
• National Cotton Council reports U.S. cotton growers to plant nearly 14 percent fewer acres than 2006
• Pew Proceedings: Genetically Engineered Food and Feed Imports, Implications for U.S. Domestic Policies

Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference Sets New Records on Multiple Fronts

A record number of attendees convened in Tucson, Ariz., this week for ASTA's 46th Annual Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference, according to Syngergene Seed & Tech., Inc.'s Merv Selvidge, chair of the Vegetable & Flower Seed Division. Attendance reached a peak of 576, there were 24 reserved appointment tables, 24 exhibit booths, and 29 sponsoring companies.

Guests began the week with a poolside SuperBowl reception (see below) jointly hosted by All -American Selections (AAS) and Syngenta Seed Care.

At half time, a drawing for prizes from the sponsors was held.

Coverage of the conference sessions will appear in the next issue of Inside ASTA.

Top left: ASTA Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, Tucson, Ariz.
Bottom left: The Syngenta Seed Care team awards a lucky winner with a Super Bowl Team Pak. (L-R Tom Harris, Dr. Kiran Shetty, the winner, Chad Stone and Jodie McClement).
Bottom right: Wayne Vassar of Sharp Bros. Seed Co., is shown with Nona Koivula, Executive Director of AAS as he receives two admission passes to Walt Disney World.

State of the States...

State and Regional Association Workshop. More than 50 individuals attended ASTA's first State and Regional Association Workshop during the Vegetable and Flower Seed meeting this week in Tucson.

ASTA staff provided an update on current seed industry issues which was followed by a general discussion covering the priorities and needs of state and regional associations. ASTA's strategic plan calls for an ongoing exchange of information between the state, regional and national seed industry organizations. Workshop attendees suggested that similar workshops be held annually. ASTA thanks the Council for Biotechnology Information for the grant that helped to fund the workshop.

Arizona. On January 24th, Arizona governor Janet Napolitano signed an executive order to re-establish the Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council (AISAC). AISAC is charged with developing a comprehensive statewide invasive species management plan for Arizona to present to the governor by June 20, 2008.

Montana. This week ASTA provided testimony against HB432, a bill to establish strict liability for developers of biotech seeds. The bill primarily attempts to hold the seed company that patented a technology strictly liable for the unintended presence of seeds or plant parts developed through modern biotechnology regardless of the company's role or responsibility in the production of the subject crop.

For more information on any of these topics, contact ASTA Director of State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Pat Miller.

On Capitol Hill...

The House Agriculture Committee announces the full committee will meet next Wed., February 14th, at 10 a.m.for a business meeting regarding "Consideration of organizational matters and the Oversight Plan of the Committee on Agriculture for the 110th Congress." The business meeting will be followed immediately by a public hearing with the Secretary of Agriculture to review USDA's 2007 Farm Bill proposals. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

Around the Agencies...

According to the Associated Press, a federal judge ruled in Washington this week that USDA APHIS should provide more scrutiny for applications of biotech crops. This action is response to a 2003 suit filed by an activist group, the International Center for Technology Assessment. According to news reports, USDA is reviewing the ruling.

This week USDA announced the selection of Gary W. Mast as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). Mast succeeds Merlyn Carlson, who retired from the position on Jan. 5, 2007. Read the news release here.

ASTA Announces Spring 2007 APHIS Workshop

ASTA members are invited to meet with APHIS officials at the upcoming ASTA-APHIS workshop, March 22, at USDA in Washington, DC. This one-day workshop will serve as an opportunity to discuss with APHIS officials and decision- makers phytosanitary issues. Past workshops included topics such as: APHIS permitting process; seed, pests and pathogens; soybean rust, pest risk analyses (PRAs) for Brazil and China; issues on the movement of seed in Mexico, Korea and Argentina; ASTA - APHIS communications; National Seed Health System and the National Plant Diagnostic Network/Homeland Security.

To register for the conference, contact Alexis Ellicott by March 19. For hotel information, contact Jennifer Lord. Both can also be reached at (703) 837-8140.

Company News and People on the Move

This week ASTA North Central Region Vice President Wayne Vassar, Sharp Bros. Seed Co., provided an industry update at the Missouri Crop Improvement Association's annual meeting in Columbia, Mo.

Presenting an industry update to the 107th Indiana Crop Improvement Association's Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., was Tim Johnson, Seed Genetics, Inc., ASTA Central Region Vice President.

Upcoming Industry Events

Virginia Cooperative Extension & Virginia Crop Improvement Association 2007 Virginia Seed Conference
2/15 - 2/15
Williamsburg Hospitality House
Williamsburg, VA

InfoAg Northwest
2/20 - 2/21
Three Rivers Convention Center
Kennewick, WA

Mississippi Seedsmen's Association Annual Meeting
2/23 - 2/25
Tunica, MS

Alabama Crop Improvement Association Southern Seed Certification Association Annual Membership Meeting
2/25 - 2/26
Hilton University of Florida Conference Center
Gainesville, FL

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events