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April 30, 2008
Historical Countdown to the 125th Anniversary Annual Convention (Part 2 of 5). As ASTA continues to prepare for its 125th Annual Convention this June, a celebration 125 years in the making, this special Seed E-News series highlights the Association's rich history. ASTA's first pictorial history book, 125 Years of the American Seed Trade Association, will debut at the convention, within which the Association's 125 years of history are segmented into five 25-year periods. In this installment, the second chapter is featured, leading up to a grand retrospective celebration at the convention itself. To register for ASTA's 125th Anniversary Annual Convention, click here.
Part Two: Tender Shoots 1908 - 1933 "Heading into the 20th century, the major concerns facing American seed companies were largely the same as those in the 1800s: seed legislation, tariff issues, postal laws, free seed distribution by the government and the disclaimer. However, the world war presented seed companies with additional problems. After the United States entered the conflict in April 1917, government war councils in each state took steps to ensure greater food production. At the 1917 convention, ASTA stressed the importance of cooperating with government war councils in order "to more fully meet the present emergency." ASTA's leadership and members demonstrated a strong sense of patriotism. They adopted the following resolution unanimously in 1917:
ASTA member companies contributed to the Great War not just with resources and seeds, but also with lives. In 1918, out of the 223 member companies, 14 owners were serving in the military, 46 others had sons in the service, and 621 employees were in uniform."
"Value of ASTA Membership Forum" and "First Time Attendee Orientation" Debut at the 125th Annual Convention. This summer's 125th Annual Convention will feature two new additions to the program intended to provide members and first time participants with the tools to get the most value out of their attendance at the convention and their participation in the Association. The Value of ASTA Membership Forum, being held on Monday, June 23, offers an interactive session in which ASTA leadership and staff will be available to discuss with members the services gained through their membership. The forum will also provide an opportunity for members to discuss with leadership how the Association can better address their needs. A special Value of ASTA Membership archive is currently being drafted, sponsored by Becker Underwood, which outlines examples of ASTA's member services in the past. This collection of reflections will present insight on the best ways members can make use of their membership. If you have an example of how ASTA has assisted you or your business in the past, contact Jason Laney to submit a quote for this book. All contributors will receive a discount coupon to the shops at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center and be entered to win a $250 gift certificate to Amazon.com. The "First Time Attendee Orientation" will be held on Sunday, June 22. This informal session provides an overview of the Annual Convention programming and special events in order to highlight how to get the best value out of the experience. Although it is designed for first-time attendees or new ASTA members, the session may also serve as a refresher to convention veterans and is open to all. Visit ASTA's Web site for more information on the 125th Annual Convention being held June 21-25, 2008, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. To register for the convention, click here.
Important Deadlines Fast Approaching for the 125th Annual Convention. ASTA's 125th Annual Convention, being held June 21-25, 2008, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., is now only seven short weeks away! Several important deadlines are approaching in May. On May 15, prices increase for the cost of exhibit booths at the convention, and currently only 10 exhibit locations remain available. May 20 is the last day to reserve a hotel room at ASTA's group rate of $195 per night at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Those requesting early arrivals or late departures may already face issues with availability. If this is the case, please contact Jennifer Lord if you should need further assistance after contacting the hotel. Finally, early registration rates expire on May 31, after which registration increases $100 (youth increases by $50). Make your arrangements early for the best savings on your trip to Orlando!
Operation Student Connection Enters its 7th Year. The exciting program, Operation Student Connection (OSC), is provided by the American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF). ASRF is a non-profit foundation, which, for many years, has funded seed-related research at prominent universities that is of long-term benefit to the seed industry. ASRF funding comes primarily from seed company members who are also members of ASTA. Recently, ASRF decided to expand its mission, and this program is one of the results. This successful program provides a valuable opportunity for graduate students in seed-related disciplines to interact with hundreds of Annual Convention attendees and managers from widely diversified seed companies across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and beyond, as well as to become better acquainted with this vibrant and dynamic industry during these exciting times. OSC participants will benefit from:
To find information about the OSC program and the online application, please visit the ASRF Web site.
ASTA Member Companies Can Benefit from Operation Student Connection. The American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) is very pleased to announce the extension of the very successful Operation Student Connection (OSC) program in 2008. This is great news for seed-related graduate students, as well as a wonderful opportunity for seed companies! OSC is an attempt by ASRF and the seed industry to reach out for more direct contact with graduate students in seed related disciplines, including plant breeders, who will be future players in our industry. ASRF facilitates the inclusion of these students into ASTA Annual Conventions through a coordinated program of participation and mentoring. A donation of $700 by your company will provide the means for one graduate student to participate in this important program at the upcoming 125th Annual Convention, being held June 21-25, in Orlando, Fla. Also, if you desire, a convention attendee from your company will have the opportunity to act as a mentor for the student throughout the convention. Students will be matched to the extent possible with companies based on areas of study, as such contacts could lead to future employment or, at the very least, a mutually beneficial relationship. Please respond by May 10 in order to complete all of the necessary arrangements. For more information about the OSC program and the sponsor application, please visit the ASRF Web site, or contact ASRF Secretary/Treasurer Ann Jorss through email or by phone at (888) 890-7333. Thank you for your consideration and support of this worthwhile program.
Last Chance to Register for FuSE Call on Pollinating with Insects.
ASTA's Future Seed Executives (FuSE) initiative will hold its next Round Table Discussion Group (RTDG) conference call on managing pollination with insects on May 8 at 10 a.m. Central Time. The RTDG is part of a series of quarterly conference calls moderated by senior industry members and is aimed at educating future seed executives on events and topics in the seed industry. This one-hour conference call will focus on the honeybee colony collapse disorder (CCD) and how seed industry leaders can help address solutions to this and other emerging industry challenges. In addition, the call will also examine how the media covers events like the CCD and how this type of reporting can impact conventional agriculture and the seed industry, specifically. The call will be moderated by Sharie Fitzpatrick, director of regulatory affairs and quality assurance for Forage Genetics International. 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.
FDA and EPA Make Announcement on StarLink Corn. On April 25, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in the Federal Register announcing the withdrawal of a guidance document entitled "FDA Recommendations for Sampling and Testing Yellow Corn and Dry-Milled Yellow Corn Shipments Intended for Human Food Use for Cry9C Protein Residues." This was a voluntary guidance to corn dry millers and masa flour manufacturers to test all inbound corn for the presence of the Cry9C protein found in StarLink corn hybrids. The withdrawal is in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) release of its final "White Paper Concerning Dietary Exposure to Cry9C Protein Produced by STARLINK Corn and the Potential Risks Associated with Such Exposure." The white paper, also published in the April 25 Federal Register, states that the presence of Cry9C has been sufficiently removed from the human food supply and that there is no longer any justification for continued testing of the protein for StarLink corn. The FDA guidance had been in effect since January 2001, when concerns arose about the Cry9C protein being found in the human food supply for which it had not been approved. Copies of the Federal Register announcements can be found through these links for FDA (here) and EPA (here). Also, the Korea Food and Drug Administration announced recently that it will remove the StarLink free documentation requirement for U.S. corn imports for food uses.
Has Your Company or Organization Considered National Seed Health System (NSHS) Accreditation? NSHS is a program authorized by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and administered by the Iowa State University Seed Science Center to acredit seed companies and other entities to conduct certain activities needed to support issuance of federal phytosanitary certificates. Activities include: laboratory seed health testing for plant pathogens; phytosanitary inspection; seed sampling and visual inspections. If your company moves seed internationally and relies on the timely issuance of Federal phytosanitary certificates, you may want to consider NSHS accreditation. Before a phytosanitary certificate can be issued by APHIS (or by state officials acting as agents of APHIS), one or more of the above-referenced activities must be performed. A company using state or Federal government employees to perform these functions may experience delays and spend significant time in coordinating these activities. Financial losses are possible due to shipping delays, unnecessary demurrage charges and even shipment rejections if something goes wrong. Those accredited have reported significant improvements:
Several states have already indicated that, due to dwindling budgets and increasing demands being placed on their programs, they will not be able to continue providing consistent and timely services to perform these activities. For more information on the NSHS, visit their website at www.seedhealth.org.
Maine Bill Introduced Last Year Passes Agriculture Committee with Slightly Different Focus. As introduced, the bill (LD1650) primarily attempted to hold a seed company that patented a technology strictly liable for the unintended presence of seeds or plant parts developed through biotechnology regardless of the company's role or responsibility in the production of the subject crop. In addition, the bill created a "technology use agreement," considered unnecessary as dispute avenues are well established and adequate. ASTA submitted testimony at the bill's initial hearing. After a year of negotiations, the bill now establishes the right of Maine growers to be heard in a court located in Maine if they are sued by a seed manufacturer for a biotechnology patent violation as long as they do not have a current contract with that company. It also prevents growers from being sued for a patent violation if they have only a minimal presence of genetically engineered (GE) in their corps or if the grower did not intend for it to be there. The bill directs the Maine Department of Agriculture to establish Best Management Practices for the use of Genetically Engineered Crops. One component of the bill, that was supported by many Maine farmers but failed, would have required all businesses selling GE seeds in Maine to report their annual sales data to the Maine Commissioner of Agriculture. The bill now heads to the House floor and, if passed, to the Senate.
Move to Ban Genetically Engineered Seeds in Montville Declared Illegal. Late last month residents of Montville, Maine, voted to ban seeds in their town that are genetically engineered. However, the state has declared the move illegal. During the annual town meeting, a resolution was passed that banned genetically modified organisms (GMO) from Montville. This is the first time a town in Maine has passed such an ordinance; however, the towns of Liberty, Brooklin and Lincoln passed non-binding resolutions to be "GMO-free zones" over a year ago. The Montville ban would affect about 6,100 acres of Maine's 1.25 million acres of farm land. The state has now declared the process, but not the intention, of the ordinance illegal. Under Maine law, towns must notify the state's Department of Agriculture and the Pesticide Control Board in advance of any vote on an ordinance affecting agriculture. No notice was given to the department regarding the ordinance in Montville, thus invalidating the ordinance. Also, Maine is a "right to farm" state, a position that could also conflict with the Montville ban. The town of Montville has not reported how they will proceed at this point. ASTA will follow the developments closely.
Re-export Problems Continue to Confront Seed Companies. Seed companies producing seed off-shore often import this seed into the U.S. and then export it to other countries. In some cases, the seed is imported as part of a company's research and development program and then moved to another country for further field testing, or it is exported as commercial seed. Sometimes imported seed is blended with domestic seed or even seed from several other countries and then re-exported. Problems arise when the U.S. regulatory officials cannot certify a shipment from the United States as meeting the phytosanitary import requirements of that importing country. Some countries accept seed testing in lieu of field inspections in the country of origin; others do not. The problem is further exacerbated when seed companies do not know the final destination of their seed until right before the seed is to be shipped. ASTA is working on several fronts to address this issue. When specific problems arise, ASTA works directly with U.S. regulatory officials to clarify the importing country's import requirements and identify all possible options. ASTA, in conjunction with the International Seed Federation (ISF) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), is exploring options for an international standard on re-export. Possible options include an international seed passport system, an internationally recognized list of seed borne diseases and guidelines for establishing multi lateral agreements on re-export. "The process for developing an international standard through the IPPC takes several years, so the more we can bring the international community together through seed associations and international bodies like ISF, the faster we can get to an IPPC standard," said Ric Dunkle, ASTA senior director for seed health and trade. Meetings on the issue will be held this May at the ISF Congress in Prague, as well as with the IPPC Secretary to develop a consensus on the best strategy. Re-export will also be on the agenda of the ASTA Phytosanitary Committee at the upcoming 125th ASTA Annual Convention in June. In the meantime, ASTA will continue to help companies resolve their specific problems. If your company is experiencing re-export issues, please do not hesitate to contact Ric Dunkle directly.
ASTA Furthers Cooperation with China.
ASTA members and staff traveled to Beijing and Changchun, China, from April 23-30. Meetings with national and provincial government officials, as well as other seed experts from private and public sectors proved very successful in facilitating discussion and extending an invitation for future collaborative efforts between the U.S. and China on plant variety protection (PVP). Tim Johnson, Illinois Seed Foundation, Inc., SGI Field Crops Division, Don Miles, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. and Gary Whiteaker, Verdant Partners, LLC, participated in the delegation along with ASTA staff, Vice President of Science and International Affairs Bernice Slutsky and Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols. With the help of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service office in Beijing, the delegation met with Ministry of Agriculture officials in Beijing from the Plant Variety Protection, Distinctness Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Testing and Seed Divisions. The group was invited to participate in roundtable discussions and sessions at the First Annual "Globalization of the Seed Industry" Biotechnology and Agriculture Summit. Traveling from Beijing to Changchun permitted the delegation to visit the DUS Testing facilities at the Jilin Agricultural Science Institute and local PVP officials at the Jilin Seed Administration Station. The team's agenda included a meeting with the organizers of the upcoming China Seed Expo to be held Sept. 10-12, 2008, in Shenyang. "This has been an extremely useful trip for the U.S. seed industry," said Tim Johnson, who serves on the ASTA Board of Directors. "We not only were able to explore cooperative activities with the Ministry of Agriculture Plant Variety Protection Office, but also set the foundation for a mutually productive relationship with the Agricultural Committee of Jilin Province, one of the major corn producing areas of China." For more information, please contact Lisa Nichols.
Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) Launches New Identity. On April 16, IPSA unveiled a new brand and marketing initiative, which includes a new tagline of "Seeds for Growth" to Drive Marketing Efforts, a new logo and a new integrated marketing campaign. The aim of the campaign is to drive home the value that independent seed companies provide to the marketplace. "Independent seed companies offer access to the latest seed technologies, provide outstanding customer service and ensure that farmers continue to have choices in the marketplace," said IPSA President Bill Latham. Over the past six months IPSA has been evaluating the market environment and working to identify key messages, organizational goals and a renewed marketing strategy. "We felt the time was right to reevaluate our messaging and update our brand image to reflect our membership," Latham continued. Utilizing the new logo and theme "Seeds for Growth," IPSA will be proactively marketing the value of independent seed companies to the farmer. Member organizations will take the new logo to the marketplace by incorporating it into all of their company literature, seed bags, seed tags, field signs, and websites. Next steps in the campaign include an update to the IPSA Web site and an increased visibility in the industry. Formed by a group of independent seed producers in 1989, IPSA addresses research and biotechnology issues and increases the media presence of the industry in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business climate. IPSA represents approximately 125 seed companies from 20 states and Canada, who produce approximately 20 percent of the corn, soybeans, small grain and forage seeds marketed annually.
Indiana Seed Trade Association (ISTA) Announces Diagnostic Day. On June 13, 2008, ISTA will hold a day of training at the Purdue University Crop Diagnostic Training and Research Center. Topics include weed management issues, corn ear development issues, corn nitrogen management and hot issues for soybeans in 2008. The center uses a unique "hands-on" approach for teaching the art and science of accurately diagnosing agricultural crop problems. Established in 1985, the center is designed to provide informative topics in a "real world" environment, where agriculturists can sharpen their crop problem trouble-shooting skills and evaluate new and alternative management strategies. For more information and to register, please visit the ISTA Web site.
On-line Career Center Connecting Agribusiness Processionals Launched. On April 25, Penton Media's Agriculture Group announced the launch of its new targeted on-line career center, AgriBizJobs.com at www.agribizjobs.com. The site offers industry employers a growing, qualified audience of agriculture professionals, while providing industry jobseekers with agribusiness-specific, categorized job listings. AgriBizJobs is a joint effort of Penton's leading agricultural brands including BEEF, Corn and Soybean Digest, Farm Industry News, Farm Press, Hay and Forage Grower and National Hog Farmer and will be promoted across all of these branded print and online outlets. Employers can view complete but anonymous resumes for free and pay only to connect with a jobseeker. Jobseekers can post resumes in agriculture-specific employment categories and sign up to receive e-mail alerts when new positions are posted that match their search criteria. The site's Anonymous Resume Bank enables both active and passive jobseekers to list their experience and qualifications in a protected environment, allowing them to stay connected to the employment market while maintaining full control of their confidential information.
The first of its kind in the United States, the certificate program for organic agriculture will be available for the summer session beginning May 5 with its first core course, Soils 101, "Organic Gardening and Farming." Other courses in the program focus on topics ranging from economics and resolving environmental conflicts to ecological soil management and crop growth and development. The program also includes an "on ground" practicum or professional internship in organic agriculture. Admission to WSU is required to enroll in courses and to earn the certificate, and participants may apply as non-degree seeking students. More information is available at WSU's Center for Distance and Professional Education Web site or by calling (800) 222-4978.
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. |