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March 11 , 2009
76% of Wheat Growers Approve Biotech Petition A recent survey commissioned by the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recorded strong approval of a petition supporting the commercialization of biotechnology in wheat. Of those growers who responded, 76 percent expressed their support. National wheat organizations support biotech commercialization, and although there was anecdotal evidence that many wheat producers would like the option to use biotech traits in their operations, the survey was conducted to measure and document the level of support at the grower level. "Until now, there has only been speculation about the breadth of grower support for biotechnology in wheat," said NAWG CEO Daren Coppock. "This petition was designed to gather those answers from across our wheat producing areas, and now we have an objective and clear answer." Seed companies involved in the research and development to bring new innovation to seed, including biotechnology traits, need assurance of ground-level support for their efforts. In particular, the commercialization of a biotech trait takes a tremendous commitment of resources by a company to undertake the decade-long, multimillion-dollar investment. "To make this investment, ASTA members take a sizeable risk as they develop new seed varieties, innovation and technology for tomorrow," said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne. "When it comes to biotechnology, this includes grower support for the technology, a path forward for commercialization and viable markets for the product." The petition recognizes the competitive pressure from other crops that have benefited from strong breeding programs and advanced technologies that the wheat industry presently lacks. Wheat growers supporting the petition acknowledged that new technology and innovation creates value, which they are committing to share with the technology developers by respecting the intellectual property of those developers who bring new technology forward. "This affirmation of respecting intellectual property is an important first step in bringing new technology and innovation to wheat growers in the United States," remarked LaVigne. "The more than 750 seed company members of ASTA share a commitment to all growers to provide higher quality, better performing varieties and hybrids that help make a farming operation more profitable and meet new opportunities in an ever-changing marketplace." ASTA Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley recently met with members of NAWG's Research and Technology Committee. She provided an overview of the seed industry, the role of ASTA and the relationship between intellectual property protection and new innovation in seed. "ASTA welcomed the opportunity to meet with the grower leaders of NAWG. We hope that in working more closely with NAWG through ASTA's Beyond the Seed Program, we can bring better understanding among wheat growers about the commitment of the seed industry to develop seed innovation that delivers more value and better performance to their farm." "The role of growers is more critical today than ever in the 'circle of technology' - the growers help bring further investment to research innovation that results in improved technology for greater grower productivity." said LaVigne. "Their continued support through seed purchases funds new research. Their respect of intellectual property protection ensures a pipeline of valuable seed technologies." On Feb. 26, NAWG reported that the survey, to date, had a 32 percent response rate, with approval rates similar across states and farm sizes. The survey was mailed in January and February to about 21,000 producers with more than 500 acres of wheat and 1,000 acres in total production. More information about the petition and survey is available online at www.wheatworld.org/biotech.
ASTA's Commodity Classic Contest Brings Awareness about Seed Industry At the 2009 Commodity Classic ASTA's booth was buzzing with activity. This year's Commodity Classic, representing the interests of corn, sorghum, soybean and wheat, set a high bar with a close to record attendance of over 4,500. ASTA staff, including Vice President of Government Affairs Leslie Cahill, Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley and Director of State Affairs Pat Miller, provided outreach on ASTA, the seed industry and ways the seed industry works with growers to deliver more value to their farms. Contestants at the ASTA booth were aided with clues to identify the seven different types of vegetable and fruit seeds. The contest was a great vehicle for ASTA staff to talk with visitors to the booth about seed, its diversity and its importance to all life. ASTA awarded three prizes at the end of the trade show, drawning from the participating contestants. "Commodity Classic is always a wonderful venue for ASTA to talk with the seed industry's primary stakeholders, the growers, to better understand the challenges they face and the opportunities we as the seed industry can bring to through our continued commitment to seed innovation and technology," stated Flanley. You Cannot Afford to Miss ASTA's 126th Annual Convention
The schedule for ASTA's 126th Annual Convention was released late last week featuring a newer, more intense programming format designed to deliver exceptional educational and networking value for attendees and timely, relevant economic information for ASTA members. Slotted for June 20-24, 2009, the convention will be held at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, Ariz. For the first time, the convention schedule will include not only general sessions with featured speakers, but new breakout sessions with experts on a variety of topics from intellectual property rights to the agricultural economic climate to sustainability. The popular State and Regional Associations Workshop on June 21 leads off the programming. The Opening General Session of the 126th Annual Convention will feature a keynote speaker which will be announced in the coming weeks. Monday's programming is full of valuable information with a session on agricultural credit markets by Michael Swanson of Wells Fargo, a special Intellectual Property Rights Educational Session featuring Dermot Hayes from Iowa State University and a Phytosanitary Workshop. The State of Agribusiness Panel continues this year in Tuesday's General Session with trends and updates from various perspectives in agriculture including Fred Luckey of Bunge Limited, Jim Sullivan of the International Ingredient Corporation, Theo Frye of the CLAAS Group, a major equipment manufacturer, and moderated once again by Greg Duerksen of Kincannon and Reed. A special Sustainability Panel follows, presenting a number of views by invited speakers from the World Bank to the Keystone Initiative, aiming to help bring better understanding of how sustainability could tremendously impact the seed industry. A new Networking Hot Spot will provide an area for one-on-one business appointments, exhibitors and a number of business services to make it easy to connect with other conference attendees. The conference has been designed to offer affordable yet exceptional programming and accommodations, with a variety of indoor special events for delegates, spouses and children alike. Register Now for Upcoming FuSE Discussion Group Call.
ASTA's Future Seed Executives (FuSE) will hold its next Round Table Discussion Group (RTDG) conference call on contract labor management on April 28 at 2 p.m. EST. The RTDG is part of a series of quarterly conference calls moderated by senior industry members, aimed at educating future seed executives on events and topics in the seed industry. This one-hour conference call will focus on issues surrounding the use of contract agricultural labor. In addition, this RTDG will also look at policy proposals regarding immigration reform that are being debated at the federal level. The call will be moderated by Jenifer Brown, partner in the law firm of Ice Miller in Indianapolis, Ind. Ms. Brown practices exclusively in the area of immigration law and is the chairman of the firm's immigration practice. The cost to participate in the call is $10 per person ($15 for non-ASTA members). Upon registration, the call-in number and pass-code will be issued. Click here to download the registration form. Please contact Jason Laney for more information. In order to facilitate group interaction, the calls will be limited to 12 participants, so early registration is encouraged. For more information on FuSE, visit www.futureseedexecutives.com. Deadline Extended for Students to Plug into the Seed Industry. The Future Seed Executives (FuSE) Campus Connections program is accepting applications for ASTA's 126th Annual Convention! Campus Connections provides the unique opportunity for undergraduate students (juniors) working towards a career in the seed industry to attend the ASTA Annual Convention where they will interact with seed industry professionals and senior executives to investigate various aspects of the seed business. FuSE, via the Campus Connections program, will award students a grant to attend the 126th Annual Convention to be held in Scottsdale, Ariz., in June 2009. Applicants for the Campus Connections program must be current undergraduate students in their junior year working towards a bachelor's degree in a seed-related area of study or Ag-Business/Economics. Please note that applications must be received by March 31, 2009. Visit the FuSE Web site for more information. To learn more about the Campus Connections program and to download the application form, please click here. Deadline Fast Approaching for Seed Expo 2009 Early-Bird Exhibit Rates! The deadline for Seed Expo 2008 exhibitors to retain their booth location and booth pricing from last year for Seed Expo 2009 is March 31. After this date, the booth inventory that has not yet been reserved will be opened up to any new exhibitors requesting space. To continue to bring more value to exhibitors, the ASTA events team is already implementing of a series of new changes and enhancements for Seed Expo 2009, as well as conducting a conference call with exhibitors to help incorporate your thoughts and feedback into the next show's planning. The conference call will also feature a presentation by an exhibit marketing consultant to help exhibitors plan for the show. Renewal forms and details on this conference call are being mailed to previous exhibitors and will be announced within the official Seed Expo 2009 registration brochure due to be released in mid-April 2009. Do not miss out on reserving your preferred booth location before these new improvements to the exhibit hall are announced! For exhibiting information, a floor plan or to reserve a booth, contact Hiranthie Stanford at the ASTA office. Meet Your ASTA Staff
A seasoned ASTA staff member, Leslie Cahill joined ASTA in 1990 and serves as the vice president for government affairs. She is responsible for the legislative and regulatory activities of ASTA. Leslie monitors and reports specifically on federal legislation affecting membership and oversees the management of state issues. In this role, she leads the development of official policy statements and testimony on legislation of interest to the seed industry. Prior to her employment with ASTA, Leslie served in various capacities at USDA as the confidential assistant to the under secretary for small community and rural development, the administrator for the Office of International Cooperation and Development and the assistant secretary for natural resources. In these positions Leslie covered a wide range of issues regarding Federal Crop Insurance, Farmers Home Administration, the Rural Electrification Administration, international research, educational programs and technical assistance priorities for a number of foreign nations, the Soil Conservation Service and the Forest Service. Leslie also served on Capitol Hill as a special assistant for Rep. Bill Emerson. A native of Missouri, she received a Bachelor of Arts from William Woods College. Residing in Virginia, Leslie enjoys spending time with her family and watching her daughter grow into a lovely young lady. For more information on ASTA legislative activities, please contact Leslie Cahill. ASTA Seeks Members to Participate in Seed Industry Washington Fly-in. The new administration in Washington, DC, faces many challenges before them. As the leadership navigates its way, factual information is critical and sought after. For the seed industry, this presents an opportunity to present the realities of this dynamic industry. As a result, ASTA is sponsoring a Seed Industry Washington DC Fly-in to provide the opportunity for ASTA members to visit with government officials as their constituents to educate and inform them of the multiple issues facing the seed industry. Held in partnership with state and regional seed trade associations, the fly-in will take place on April 28-29, with additional appointments conducted on the fringes. The Obama Administration and Congressional Members need to put a "face" to this vital industry. The seed industry has many issues - intellectual property rights, energy, conservation, trade, stewardship and immigration to name only a few. The audience is broad, from Capitol Hill to federal agencies including, but not limited to, the Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ASTA members are in the best position to explain the changing face of the seed industry, an industry that is dynamic, innovative, supportive and economically critical at the state, national and international levels. Participants will gain insight into the inner-working of the U.S. government while assisting the seed industry with policy issues and ensuring a brighter future for their individual companies. Although registration is free, please send an email to Pat Miller with your contact information to participate and to assist in planning. ASTA staff will make appointments with appropriate Representatives and Senators and will be provided with a briefing packet prior to the meetings to be properly informed on the issues. ASTA has procured a rate of $199 single/$219 double at the Lorien Hotel in Alexandria, Va., conveniently located to the Metro and Ronald Reagan National Airport. To make room reservations at the Lorien Hotel (www.lorienhotelandspa.com), contact Mr. Mauricio Quiroga directly at 703-842-2737 during business hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and ask for the American Seed Trade Association rate for April 24-28. The discounted rates are available until March 27. Patent Reform Legislation Introduced. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a senior member and former chairman of the committee, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced the Patent Reform Act of 2009 on March 3. The Senate and House bills are similar to bipartisan legislation introduced in the 110th Congress. The House of Representatives passed patent reform legislation (H.R. 1908) in the last Congress, and the Senate Judiciary Committee reported companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1145). It has been more than 50 years since significant reforms were made to the U.S. patent system. The legislation proposes updates to the system intended to improve patent quality and increase certainty among parties in litigation. Among other things, the legislation would move the U.S. patent system toward a "first-inventor-to-file system," which would give priority to the first true inventor to file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The legislation would also improve administrative reexamination procedures and provide more clarity to all parties about their rights and potential liabilities earlier in the infringement litigation process. ASTA is a member of a broad based coalition following patent reform and will be weighing in on provisions that will have a direct impact on the seed industry's ability to protection innovation and investment. ASTA Active in Iowa Seed Policy. ASTA's Senior Director for Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunklemet with Iowa officials to discuss the seed count/seed weight issue that has recently emerged in that state. In the Iowa seed regulations, there is a discrepancy between Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) standards for allowable variation in seed count. A workshop is being planned for later this spring to help resolve this problem. State Actions Watched for Impact on Seed Industry. ASTA tracks a variety of legislative bills and policies at the state level. To find out the latest information in a specific state, please click here for an interactive map. Below is a status on some of the bills ASTA has been following:
African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) Holds 9th Annual Congress in Cape Town
The congress, which took place March 2-6, was well attended by over 200 AFSTA members from 35 countries. The program included multiple information and discussion forums on topics including a workshop of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) on Plant Variety Protection, seed care, seed health, the harmonization of regulations, the commercialization and use of genetically engineered crops, as well as the role of the African seed industry in the face of food crisis. Bernice Slutsky, ASTA's vice president of science and international affairs, and Lisa Nichols, ASTA's director of international programs, attended the congress. Nichols' seat as an associate member of the AFSTA Board of Directors was renewed during the general assembly proceedings. During the congress, past ASTA employee Mark Condon was recognized with a lifetime AFSTA membership to acknowledge Condon's instrumental efforts on behalf of ASTA in establishing AFSTA. The 10th Annual Congress will be held March 1-5, 2010, in Bamako, Mali. Nichols stated, "AFSTA is playing an integral part of the creation and support of national seed associations in Africa, as well as serving to direct efforts on the harmonization of seed legislation and the promotion of trade in the region represented by its membership. The opportunity to continue to represent the interests of ASTA through the important efforts being made by AFSTA is extremely valuable." Phytosanitary Workshop to Address Seed Movement between the U.S. and Mexico. On March 23-24 at the port of El Paso, Tex., this workshop will bring together a variety of stakeholders including U.S. and Mexican seed company representatives plus officials from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection and their Mexican regulatory counterparts to discuss how seed consignments are inspected and why some are held or rejected. With the increasing seed trade between the U.S. and Mexico, seed companies frequently face holds on shipments at the border. The problems occur on both sides of the border and range from improper paperwork to phytosanitary concerns. Because there are various regulatory jurisdictions represented at the border crossings, it is often difficult for companies to resolve these issues in a timely manner or know what to do to prevent them in the first place. The workshop will help to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the many jurisdictions as well as communication mechanisms among the various regulatory entities will be discussed. "This is an exciting opportunity for our members to gain a better understanding of how the regulatory authorities function at the land border crossings to clear seed consignments," noted Ric Dunkle, ASTA's senior director for seed health and trade. "Our members hope to gain insight into how to prevent problems from occurring and who to talk to when something goes wrong." March 1-3 ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne attended the California Seed Association meeting in San Francisco, Calif. Key areas of discussion were standards for sustainable agriculture, concern about verticillium wilt and the direction of the leafy green industry, review of the national organic program, phytosanitary impacts on the movement of seed and several other key industry issues. ASTA Chairman Kelly Keithly and LaVigne gave an overall review of the activities of the association. March 3 Pat Miller, ASTA's director of state affairs, attended the Wisconsin Crop Production Association Annual Membership Meeting and Seminar. Miller served on panel regarding retail supply of seed, chemical and fertilizer. Other panelists included Jack Eberspacher of the Agricultural Retailers Association, Terry Roberts of the International Plant Nutrition Institute and Darren Pittman of CropLife America. March 3 Bernice Slutsky, ASTA's vice president of science and international affairs, and Lisa Nichols, ASTA's director of international programs, met with Greg Traxler and Yilma Kebede from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to discuss the work of the foundation in Africa and the roles that African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) and ASTA play in the seed industry in Africa. March 3 Ric Dunkle, ASTA's senior director for seed health and trade, participated in the annual meeting of the the Central Plant Board (CPB) in Des Moines, Iowa. The CPB consists of regulatory officials from the state agricultural departments from the Midwest, as well as the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. As part of a panel discussion on the National Seed Health System (NSHS), Dunkle made a presentation on the value of NSHS to the seed industry. The CPB passed a resolution recommending that the NSHS undergo a formal review to determine how it can be improved. March 4 Bernice Slutsky, ASTA's vice president of science and international affairs, and Lisa Nichols, ASTA's director of international programs, met with Obongo Nachaye, Seed Trade Association of Kenya, Francois Burgaud, Groupement National Interprofessionnel des Semences, Graines et Plants, and Justin Rakotoarisaona, AFSTA, to discuss opportunities to cooperate on an activity focused on plant variety protection enforcement in Kenya and other East African countries. March 4 Bernice Slutsky, ASTA's vice president of science and international affairs, and Lisa Nichols, ASTA's director of international programs, met with Drs. Joe Cortes and Adelaida Harries from Iowa State University (ISU) to discuss potential collaborative efforts between ASTA and ISU focused on plant variety protection in South America. March 4-5 ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne toured several seed related operations in the Salinas Valley region, discussing topics that ranged from the production of organic seed to the direction of the leafy greens board with respect to verticillium wilt. March 5-6 ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne attended the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) Mid-Winter Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., to participate in the industry Advisory Committee meeting. The committee consists of representatives from national and regional organizations that represent grower and government entities that deal with certified seed and other certification processes that AOSCA is involved in. Grab your Garden Hat and Tour AAS Display Gardens An All American Selections (AAS) Display Garden provides the public an opportunity to view the new AAS Winners in an attractive well-maintained setting. Additionally, Display Gardens provide educational AAS programs during "open house" or "field day" events during the peak season for garden flowers and vegetables. There are 182 AAS Display Gardens in the U.S. and Canada. Click here to find one near you. Indiana Crop Improvement Association, Inc. and Indiana Seed Trade Announce Joint Annual Meeting for 2010 The Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) and the Indiana Seed Trade Association (ISTA) recently announced plans to hold a joint annual meeting in 2010. Historically these meetings have been held separately with the ICIA Annual Conference in February and the ISTA Corn Belt Seed Conference in November. While both meetings have maintained excellent educational programs and strong attendance, the board members of both organizations decided that pooling resources for a joint conference would provide an opportunity to raise the bar even higher with additional cutting edge speakers, more commercial exhibitors and an increase in attendance. This new, joint meeting will be known as the Corn Belt Seed Conference and is scheduled for Feb. 10-12, 2010 in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.indianacrop.org, call 866-899-2518, or email icia@indianacrop.org. Indiana Crop Improvement Association Announces Newly Elected Leadership The 2009-2010 Executive Committee and the newly elected members for the Board of Directors of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) were recently announced at the 2009 ICIA Annual Meeting held Feb. 5-6, 2009. 2009-2010 Executive Committee members are: President Jon Stafford, Westbred LLC; Vice President Ben Kaehler, Dow AgroSciences; Director at Large Mike Davis, AgVenture; Immediate Past President Jim Stewart, Stewart Seeds Inc.; and Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, Agriculture Research Programs, Purdue University. 2009-2010 Newly elected Board Members are: Bob Bischoff, AgriPro Coker Wheat; Carlos Iglesias, Weaver Popcorn; and Greg Smith, Hubner Industries LLC. As the new president of the Indiana Seed Trade Association, Tim Reese, Fielder's Choice/GrowDirect, serves as an Ex-officio board member.
USDA
USDA/AMS
USDA/ARS
USDA/APHIS USDA/CSREES
USDA/ERS
USDA/FSA USDA/NRCS
Click here for a schedule of additional industry events ASTA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact ASTA at (703) 837-8140.
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129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |