Seed E-News

April 1, 2005

ASTA Committee Assignments 2006
Member companies are invited to assign committee representatives for the 2006 fiscal year which starts on July 1, 2005. Company ASTA representatives should have received a company profile detailing current committee assignments and related individuals and are requested to make committee assignments to Peter Patterson, Director, Member Services no later than May 13, 2005. This will ensure that the committee membership can be updated before July 1. Company representatives are also invited to review the other information held in the membership database about the company and related individuals and provide any corrections or deletions to Peter at ppatterson@amseed.org or by fax to (703) 834-9365. Please do not delay committee assignments until you have completed the review of company information. If you have not received your company profile or have any questions, please contact Peter on (703) 837-8140.

ASTA Seed Divisions
Currently, membership of ASTA's five Seed Divisions — Corn & Sorghum, Soybean, Farm Seed, Lawn Seed and Vegetable & Flower — is restricted to a member company's nominated ASTA representative who is the first point of contact on issues related to the Division(s). It is recognized, however, that, with an issue such as Asian Soybean Rust, the ASTA representative may not be able to devote the necessary time and effort to address it. As a result, ASTA has decided to expand membership of the Seed Divisions to include interested individuals. ASTA representatives are requested, therefore, assign individuals to the Division(s) to which their company belongs. These new members will be added to the Divisionsā e-mail address list. If you are uncertain about which Division(s) you belong to, please contact Peter Patterson. Please seek the advice of the Divisions' staff liaisons as necessary in considering the assignment. It should be noted that a company will still have only one vote at Division meetings.

Registration Now Open for ASTA's 122nd Annual Convention
The first opportunity to register for ASTA's 122nd Annual Convention, being held June 18-22, 2005 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, is now open. Featuring a top-notch line up of general session speakers, a variety of special events, fun sporting events, and a host of exciting optional tours, this year's Annual Convention continues to raise the bar on the ASTA convention experience. Some sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are also still available. Registration for the conference, hotel rooms, sponsorships, and exhibits, as well as an updated convention schedule and description of all special events are available.

APHIS/ASTA Workshop
Please mark you calendar for this important event. The next APHIS/ASTA Workshop is scheduled for April 21, 2005 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Headquarters in Washington, DC. Following the format of the Fall 2004 workshop, company representatives will have another opportunity to address seed-related issues on international trade, biotechnology, bioterrorism, and more, through presentations by APHIS officials and open discussion. The program for the workshop, which will last the whole day, is still being developed. More information on the workshop will be provided as soon as it is available.Ź In the meantime, anyone interested in attending, or seeking more information, should contact Alexis Ellicott on (703) 837-8140 or at aellicott@amseed.org.

Farmers urged to Discuss Soybean Rust Concerns with Local Ag Extension Experts and Crop Insurance Agent
On March 24, 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (RMA) encouraged insured producers concerned about the impact of Asian soybean rust to use good farming practices by seeking and following recommendations of agricultural experts to control soybean rust. Further, RMA recommends the insured producer document the advice received and actions taken to combat this disease. On March 28, 2005, the RMA issued a memorandum to all reinsured companies and to Risk Management Field Offices with the March 24 statement and a Q&A annex. The memorandum can be accessed Here.

Soybean Rust Web Sites
The following links will be maintained through October 2005. Those interested, should bookmark them.

USDA's interactive soybean rust web site Soybean Rust Information Site provides timely information on the extent and severity of soybean rust outbreaks in the United States, Caribbean basin and Central America. It will give users up-to-date forecasts on where soybean rust is likely to appear in the United States, reports where the disease exists by county, refers growers to county extension agents nationwide, lists the National Plant Diagnostic Networks laboratories and links to other web sites to give producers effective disease management options. North Carolina State University's Soybean Rust Forecast Center will be updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week.

USDA Grants Protection to Nine New Plant Varieties
On March 28, 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued certificates of protection to developers of nine new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include bentgrass, bermudagrass, bluegrass, corn, pumpkin, rice and wheat. The nine certificates are being issued under the Plant Variety Protection Act. The certificates require that the varieties be new, distinct, uniform and stable. The owners will have the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the United States for the duration of protection. The nine certificates are:

• the Brighton variety of creeping bentgrass, developed by Seed Research of Oregon, Corvallis, OR;
• the Greenwich variety of velvet bentgrass, developed by Pure Seed Testing Inc., Hubbard, OR;
• the Seaside II* variety of creeping bentgrass, developed by Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, University Park, PA;
• the Boutique variety of Kentucky bluegrass, developed by Turf Merchants Inc., Tangent, OR;
• the NP2315 variety of field corn, developed by Syngenta Seed Inc., Minneapolis, MN;
• the Full Moon variety of pumpkin, developed by Hollar Seed Company, Rocky Ford, CO;
• the Francis variety of rice, developed by University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Fayetteville, AR.;
• the CL161* variety of rice, developed by Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Rayne, LA; and
• the Daisy* variety of common wheat, developed by Sunbeam Extract Co., Wooster, OH.

In the United States, seed of this variety (1) shall be sold by variety name only as a class of certified seed and (2) shall conform to the number of generations specified by the owner of the rights (84 STAT. 1542, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2321 ET SEQ). USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service administers the Plant Variety Protection Act, which provides time- limited marketing protection to developers of new and distinct seed- reproduced and tuber-propagated plants ranging from farm crops to flowers. For additional information contact the Plant Variety Protection Office at telephone (301) 504-5518, fax (301) 504-5291 or the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/science/PVPO/pvpindex.htm.

Iowa Lawmakers Head off Seed Regulation
Iowa Senate lawmakers have voted to head off any future attempt by local governments in Iowa to regulate the use of agricultural seeds — including genetically modified varieties. Under a bill approved 33-16, only the Iowa Department of Agriculture would have authority to regulate agricultural seeds. Backers of the bill argue state oversight is preferable to a patchwork of local rules that could hamper Iowa farmers and businesses developing biotech products. Full Story.

USDA Prospective Plantings Report
The report, was released at 8:30 a.m. on March 31, 2005, confirmed that Asian soybean rust has not greatly impacted farmers decisions to plant the 2005 soybean crop. Soybean growers intend to plant an estimated 73.9 million acres, down 2 percent from last yearās record acreage. Soybean production in 2004 totaled 3.14 billion bushels, the largest U.S. soybean crop in history. However, since soybean rust was first confirmed in the continental U.S. on November. 9, 2004, there has been heightened speculation of how growers would react to this fast-spreading, yield-reducing disease. The 37 page report, which also covers 2005 planting intentions for corn, wheat, cotton, and other crops, can be accessed Here.

Plant Biosecurity Management Course
The Plant Biosecurity Management Course was developed for Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) by the University of Missouri, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. EDEN is a multi-state initiative of Extension Services working to improve disaster preparedness and recovery. Purdue University is an EDEN member and contributor to the course. Designed for Extension advisors, agents, and specialists who understand the urgency of plant protection and will have the opportunity to teach plant biosecurity management to those involved in the U.S. agricultural sector, the course is also suitable for producers. For more information, and to access the FREE course, follow this link EDEN Plant Biosecurity Management Course Information.

European Commission Set to Push Ahead with New GMOs
On March 22, 2005, euobserver.com reported that the European Commission is set to carry on with its practice of introducing new genetically modified products to the EU market, amid reluctance by several member states and general public opposition. The forthcoming steps by the Commission on GM products in Europe were outlined in a paper put forward by the institution's president and six other commissioners, which was to be adopted today on March 22. According to the document, the Commission will take steps to authorize several products that have been neither approved nor rejected by a sufficient number of member states ö such as GM oilseed rape (GT73) and maize (MON 863).

Existing legislation allows the Commission to go ahead with the authorization procedure if a threshold of votes by member states against the proposal is not obtained. The Commission argues that member states have so far avoided taking a clear position, leaving it up to the Brussels executive to make unpopular decisions. However, several environment organizations oppose the plans to introduce new GM products without necessary European legislation to protect the consumers — as well as conventional and organic crops — from contamination. Meanwhile, the EU is facing an on-going trade dispute in the World Trade Organisation, initiated by the US, Argentina and Canada in 2003, due to its failure to apply its own regulatory regime on GMOs.

The above is a summary of the article. No hyperlink is provided due to the small font in the original web page.

Marginal Improvement on Biotech Regulations in Germany
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has reported that Germany is to establish a liability fund to cover economic damages resulting from federal research projects utilizing the planting of biotech crops in open areas. The size of the fund is expected to amount to Euro 20 million. The Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture (BMVEL) has not yet confirmed this number. The fund will only cover damages resulting from deliberate releases in official research institutes. It is not intended to cover damages resulting from private industry research. The FAS report is available in PDF and Word versions.

Extremists halt British GM Crop Trials Genetically modified crop trials have been effectively halted in Britain because of protests by environmental activists, scientists said recently. The country's leading centre for GM crop research said it had been forced to move trials abroad or end them entirely because they were constantly torn up by protesters. Prof Ian Crute, director of the Government-backed research unit at Rothamsted, Herts, said: "Every time we attempt a field trial of a new laboratory-created variety, extremists come along and dig up our plants." Full Story.

US Grains Council Global Update The weekly global update is provided at the request of the Corn & Sorghum Division. Follow the link for the update for week ending March 25, 2005 and April 1, 2005.

Industry and People
If your company or organization has any personnel changes or other developments that you would like to see included in the ASTA E-News, please send details to ppatterson@amseed.org.

ASTA Conferences and Activities

April 21, 2005
APHIS/ASTA Workshop
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th and Jefferson Streets
Washington, DC

June 18-22, 2005
122nd ASTA Annual Convention
Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Tower
Seattle, WA
Registration

November 5-8, 2005
ASTA Farm & Lawn Seed Meeting
Westin Crown Center
Kansas City, MO
(held in conjunction with the Western Seed Association)

December 7-9. 2005
60th Corn & Sorghum and
35th Soybean Research Conferences
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, IL

January 2006
Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference
Amelia Island Plantation
Amelia Island, FL

Upcoming Events

April 2005
ISTA Ordinary Meeting 2005
At the invitation of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, ISTA will be holding its Ordinary Meeting 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand April 25-28, 2005. To register, follow this link ISTA Online. The meeting is aimed at discussing and deciding on proposals for changes to the ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing and business items of the Association, with the international participation of ISTA delegates and representatives from both the seed industry and governments, including experts in seed technology, scientific research and laboratory accreditation. The final program can be downloaded Here.

May 2005
Seed Technologist Training Workshop
The annual seed technologist training sessions hosted by Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. will be held May 16-20, 2005 in Brookings, S.D. This week of workshop training teaches germination, purity, seed identification and tetrazolium testing theories and methods. New for 2005 is a one-day session lead by Ken Stoner, Canadian Seed Institute explaining the Canadian grading system.

Sessions are designed for seed analysts, seed technologists, genetic technologists, quality assurance personnel and others interested in traditional and seed testing analysis. They are particularly helpful for those planning to take future seed technologist examinations. The workshop format is comprised of both lecture and hands-on experience. Speakers include Dr. Loren Wiesner, recent retiree from the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Ft. Collins, Colorado; Dr. Denis McGee, Iowa State University; Sharon Davidson, RST and owner of Agri Seed Testing in Salem, Oregon; and various MWSS staff.

For more information or to register please visit www.mwseed.com/workshops.htm or contact Mid-West Seed Services, Inc at workshops@mwseed.com.

International Seed Federation Congress 2005
The ISF World Seed Congress 2005 will be held in Santiago, Chile, May 30-June 1, 2005. The web site can be accessed here.

July 2005
Colorado State University Seed Analyst Workshops
Two five-day Seed Analyst Workshops will again be held at Colorado State University (CSU), in Fort Collins, Colorado, July 11-22, 2005. Each will be restricted to 10-20 students. The July 11-15 workshop, "Seed Identification and Purity Analysis," provides an extensive hands-on experience with seeds of legumes, cereals, grasses, revegetation species, vegetables and flowers. The emphasis will be on grass species identification and the use of blowing points and multiple unit factors for determining pure seed. Noxious weeds common to these groups are also emphasized. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to collect seeds of many different grasses and legumes. The July 18-22 workshop, "Seed Viability," offers lectures and practical experience in viability testing, including germination dormancy, vigor and tetrazolium. The emphasis will be on the use of tetrazolium when testing seed viability of native species. An educational tour of regional seed labs and a visit to the Denver Botanical Gardens are included with this workshop.

The workshops are an excellent preparation for taking the qualifying exams to become a Registered Seed Technologist (RST) or a Certified Seed Analyst. The workshops provide a review of fundamentals of seed anatomy, identification, purity, physiology, and viability testing. The fee for each workshop, including materials, is $200 ($350 if both workshops are taken). Reasonable accommodations are available at nearby motels. The workshops are offered in conjunction with the Seed Analyst Training Program offered by CSU through its Division of Educational Outreach. This program introduced in early 1998, is comprised of the following courses, some of which may be prerequisites for the workshops, depending on the studentās training and experience:

These courses may be taken throughout the year, anywhere in the world. To date, over 350 students have enrolled representing 24 states and 7 countries. The courses are recommended by AOSA/SCST for beginning and experienced seed analysts. Credits apply towards points needed to take the RST accreditation examination. To register for the courses and workshops, contact:

Colorado State University
Division of Continuing Education
1040 Campus Delivery, Spruce Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1040
Phone: 1-877-491-4336 OR 1-970-491-5288
E-Mail: info@learn.colostate.edu
Website: www.learn.colostate.edu

For information or questions on the courses and workshops, contact Carissa Schow (970-491-6295) or Jim Bruce (970-495-3246).

November 2005
Soybean Rust Workshop
The American Phyto-Pathological Society has scheduled a workshop in conjunction with USDA and the American Soybean Board for November 15-16, 2005 to discuss soybean rust. This will be a national level workshop based on science. There is no venue yet for the meeting.