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August 20 , 2008
Horticulture and Organics See a Boost in New Farm Policy In this third article in a series on the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, ASTA explores the impact of the horticulture and organic title. ASTA members involved in these two key areas are provided additional opportunities by way of funding, expanding activities and new programs. In particular, members of the ASTA's Vegetable and Flower Seed Division and Organic Committee will be especially interested in the new resources and focus provided in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. ASTA Seed Expo Reinvented! The largest seed industry trade show in the country, ASTA's Seed Expo 2008, has been reinvented to feature services and suppliers across all seed types. Seed industry professionals will have access to a wide range of exhibitors offering the latest in new equipment, products and services to improve your business. Held Dec. 9-11 in Chicago in conjunction with ASTA's Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conferences, the Seed Expo 2008 is a venue of importance to all aspects of seed production. New promotions are available for the Seed Expo 2008, so mark your calendars now! First-time attendees and those who have not been in the past five years are eligible for a free day pass. Day passes for the general public (both members and non-members) will be offered at $50. Special promotions will be offered for professionals with direct responsibility for seed production and/or operations within their company - watch for further announcements in Seed E-News. Exhibitors are encouraged to fully utilize their access to unlimited day passes for their customers. Additional information will be provided as September registration becomes available or visit ASTA's Web site. To exhibit at the Seed Expo 2008, please click here for further information or contact Hiranthie Stanford.
ASTA Welcomes Jillian Barnett as Manager of International and Domestic Programming ASTA is pleased to announce the addition of Jillian Barnett as manager of international and domestic programming. Barnett joined the ASTA team on Aug. 11. Her principal responsibility is to provide planning and administrative support to ASTA International, Government Affairs and Communication Departments. "We are very fortunate to have Jillian join us with her personal and academic background in agriculture," stated Andy LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA. "Her understanding of agriculture and her education will enable ASTA to enhance its international and domestic activities on behalf of all its members." Prior to joining ASTA, Jillian earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and a Masters of Agriculture, with an emphasis on agriculture and resource economics, both from West Virginia University. Jillian previously worked as a research assistant in the Rumen Fermentation Profiling Laboratory at West Virginia University, with extensive work in continuous culture technology. She grew up on the family farm in Ashton, W.Va., where, alongside her father and grandfather, she helped raise beef cattle, horses, tobacco and hay. Register Now for the Next FuSE Educational Unit at Seminis
ASTA's Future Seed Executives (FuSE) program will hold its next Educational Unit at Seminis in Woodland, Cal., on Sept. 16. Highly popular with participants, the Educational Units provide one-day programs hosted by ASTA member companies in conjunction with local universities. The exciting agenda for the next Educational Unit is now finalized and can be found here. The seminar will feature an overview of the Seminis and Monsanto business models, a session on recent research developments and a tour of the research facility. A case study on improved nutrient content in biotech vegetables will be moderated by Megan Judge and Professor Jim Ahern of Cal Poly University. Additionally, the unit offers numerous networking opportunities with other young professionals. FuSE is also partnering with the California Seed Association (CSA) to provide a discounted opportunity to attend their mid-year meeting on Sept. 17. For only $150, future seed executives are able to attend both events and learn about many issues that the CSA is currently addressing on behalf of the state's seed industry. Information on airports, lodging and driving directions are now posted on the FuSE Web site. An optional social event will also be held on Monday, Sept. 15. Please note that the FuSE Educational Unit is filling up quickly, and registrations must be received in the ASTA office by Monday, Sept. 8. Click here to register for the event. Should you have any questions about the upcoming Educational Unit or FuSE, please contact Jason Laney. Reserve Hotel Rooms Early for the Upcoming Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference The fast-growing conference of any ASTA event, the 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference will be held Feb. 7-10, 2009, at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. The 2009 conference falls at the end of the week of Super Bowl XLIII, as well as the Annual Gasparilla Festival on Feb. 7, 2009. This places extra pressure on room availability at our host hotel, so please make reservations immediately in order to ensure lodging. To make a reservation, contact the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel at (813) 221-4900 and ask for the American Seed Trade Association group rate of $199 singe/double. Click here for a direct link to the hotel's Web site. Please contact ASTA if you encounter any difficulty. For more information on the conference, please click here. Get the Most Out of ASTA's Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference — Visit Tampa's Gasparilla Festival The opening day of ASTA's 48th Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference, being held Feb. 7-10, 2009, at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, coincides with a traditional and fun event in the city of Tampa that is likened to a mini-Mardi Gras. Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Fest, celebrating the pirate history of Tampa and honoring the famed pirate Jose Gaspar, will arrive in the marina on Feb. 7. The event features a huge flotilla of ships and the momentous arrival of Gaspar's pirate ship, carrying Tampa's local dignitaries, arriving just outside the hotel. A parade follows, and the city comes alive for this free event! ASTA attendees are encouraged to arrive on Feb. 6 so as not to miss the festivities! Please note that if you are arriving Feb. 7, the most direct route to the hotel from the airport may be blocked for part of the day; however, the hotel will still be accessible for arrivals through alternate routes ASTA Sends Letter to Senate Supporting U.S. Ratification of International Treaty The letter to the leadership of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations, including Chairman Joseph Biden and Ranking Member Richard Lugar, reiterated the paramount importance of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) to the seed industry. ASTA conveyed its support of U.S. ratification of the treaty, a comprehensive international agreement which aims to ensure food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for the production of food and agriculture. The treaty addresses both the conservation of genetic resources and their use with equitable benefits which are crucial to secure their availability to plant breeders in order to bring improved crop yields and profitability to farmers. ASTA believes it essential that the U.S. government be fully engaged as a Party to the international treaty so that the issues of importance to the seed industry, and thus American agriculture, are effectively addressed. On July 7, President Bush transmitted the ITPGR to the Senate for its advice and consent on the ratification. The treaty was adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 3, 2001. Although the United States officially signed the treaty on November 1, 2002, Senate confirmation is required before a treaty is officially ratified. ASTA staff will continue to provide additional information and reinforce the values of the treaty to Members of the Committee and their staff. Should the Congress adjourn before considering the treaty, it will be carried over in the next Congress. For further information regarding ITPGR, please contact Leslie Cahill or Bernice Slutsky. ASTA Staff Appointed to Advisory Committee for the National Invasive Species Council
ASTA Vice President for Government Affairs Leslie Cahill has been appointed to the advisory committee for the National Invasive Species Council. The council is co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and its members include the Secretaries of State, Defense, Transportation, Treasury, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, and the Administrators of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Air and Space Administration, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced Cahill's appointment to the 31-member advisory committee at a National Invasive Species Council meeting on Aug. 1 in Washington, D.C. The advisory committee represents a broad range of stakeholders including scientific, conservation, agriculture, state and tribal governments and industry organizations impacted by invasive species. ASTA established an Invasive Species Working Group in 1999 to better position the seed industry as events, policy discussions and proposed legislative remedies escalated at the federal, state and international levels. The Invasive Species Working Group convenes in Kansas City at the Western Seed Association meeting each November, as well as the ASTA annual convention. The inclusion of seed industry representation to the council through the advisory committee will be critical as policy discussions are conducted regarding invasive species management, interdiction and related activities which will directly impact ASTA members and seed sectors ASTA Presents 2009 Funding Application to USDA ASTA submitted their Unified Export Strategy (UES) application to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) requesting funding assistance under the Market Development Programs. This year, ASTA requested funding in both the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD). The resources for these programs both come from USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). MAP helps trade organizations finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products, while FMD aids in the creation, expansion and maintenance of long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products. For the 2009 fiscal year, ASTA developed export market strategies for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, the Mercosur region and Mexico; as well as for the global market for U.S. seed exports. The priority issues to be addressed through the market development programs are in line with ASTA's strategic plan for International Programs. "The UES application for 2009 represents the comprehensive strategy that ASTA's International Executive Committee helped determine for ASTA international efforts," said Lisa Nichols, ASTA director of international programs. "In order to determine a dynamic approach in each of ASTA's key markets, we incorporated what was learned from previous activities, along with input from member companies on issues facing the U.S. seed industry in the international marketplace." ASTA will also conduct development activities in Vietnam and Africa utilizing funding previously received through the USDA Emerging Markets Program (EMP) aimed at technical assistance activities to promote exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products to emerging markets. Funding authorization for these USDA cooperator programs is linked to the farm bill. The bill's delayed approval slightly impacted the timing of the 2009 UES application process. However, after enactment of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, $200 million will be made available to USDA cooperators under MAP and $34.5 million under FMD. The new fiscal year for FMD begins Oct. 1, 2008, and the new fiscal year for MAP will begin Jan. 1, 2009. For more information, please contact Lisa Nichols. Vietnam Intends to Adopt Biotech Crops In response to the country's dependence on agricultural imports and to calm concerns about economic stability, Vietnam will look to crops derived from modern biotechnology to meet the growing needs of its large feed and textile industries. "Vietnam plans to allow massive production of GM [genetically modified] crops after 2010," said Pham Van Toan, Hanoi-based head of the general office at the agriculture ministry's Science and Technology Department. According to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Vietnamese authorities have completed a draft of a biosafety law that will allow such crops. A National Assembly session in October is expected to approve the law. As of July, imports of cotton rose 26 percent over the same time period the year before, according to the General Statistics Office. Vietnam, along with Indonesia, was Asia's biggest importer of soybean meal and additionally imported 750,000 metric tons of corn. Vietnam has an interest in using genetically engineered crops, in particular these commodities, to reduce their dependence on these imports. As early as 2005, the country approved a program to cut agricultural imports. However, before the 2010 target for mass production using GM crops can be met, the Science and Technology Department will need to issue regulations and have them approved to begin cultivation of these crops. Beyond cultivation of existing plant technologies, Vietnam plans to create new plant varieties, animal breeds and biotech products through modern biotechnology to enhance the competitiveness of its agricultural and fishery industries. To read the full report by FAS on these developments in Vietnam, please click here. August 6-9 ASTA Director of State Affairs Pat Miller attended the Association of American Seed Control Officials 22nd Annual Meeting held in Nashville. Members found networking opportunities and exchanged ideas and information on state seed regulatory policy. The organization also has the prospect of suggesting changes to the Recommended Uniform State Seed Law (RUSSL), although no recommendations were proposed at this meeting. Miller presented a session on arbitration, detailing the effects of the recent Supreme Court ruling on state arbitration laws. ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne met with Ken Hobbie, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, to discuss prospects for U.S. exports of barley, corn and sorghum in the context of today's marketplace, as well as regulatory processes for biotechnology products in the European Union and other export markets. ASTA Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols and Manager of International and Domestic Programming Jillian Barnett attended the India Roundtable meeting at International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The roundtable provide an opportunity to meet with a nine member, high-level group from India who were visiting the United States through a program by Michigan State University. The short-term exchange program on Confined Field Trials for Genetically Modified Organisms was sponsored by U.S. Trade and Development Agency. The information exchange was enhanced by a presentation given by delegation member Dr. K. C. Bansal on "Biotechnology Research and Regulations in India." August 12 ASTA Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley met with Rod Conner of Ag Gateway and Sarah Novak, American Feed Industry Association and member of AgGateway, to discuss the application of their services to ASTA membership. AgGateway, a non-profit consortium of businesses serving the agriculture industry, helps member companies improve their profitability and productivity by educating, promoting and expanding participation in eBusiness in agriculture and agriculture related businesses. August 13 ASTA Senior Director of Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle and Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols met with John Stevens, phytosanitary issues manager with Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., to discuss the upcoming Asia Pacific Seed Association-ASTA Phytosanitary Workshop to be held Aug. 28-29.
August 13-14 ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne participated in the Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) Annual Meeting. LaVigne also delivered a presentation to MABA membership along with other leaders in the agricultural industry, including Kendell Keith, National Grain and Feed Association; Jay Vroom, CropLife America; Ford West, The Fertilizer Institute; Jack Eberspacher, Ag Retailers Association and Bart Chilton, Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
Home Garden Seed Association Sees Growth
The Home Garden Seed Association (HGSA) is a fairly new, industry wide association with about 20 members and a growing budget of over $25,000. HGSA is a member driven organization that addresses the needs of seed based business. HGSA will continue to meet twice a year, at the ASTA Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference held in late January or early February and at the HGSA Summer Meeting and Trails. The 2008 HGSA Summer Meeting and Trials will be in Chico, Cal. The HGSA trials offer members an annual opportunity to trial their own material. HGSA is in the process of furthering their outreach. The Web site will be on-line in Sept. 2008, and will serve as a central location for the industry as well as members and the consumer. The site will also offer a listing of HGSA articles about seed gardening. This summer, representatives of the HGSA will attend the 2008 Garden Writers Meeting to better communicate about the opportunities this segment of the seed industry has to offer the general consumer. HGSA's goal is to increase the size of the home garden seed industry. USDA's Floriculture Crops 2005 Summary provides some interesting insights into the competition in the marketplace. The survey revealed that 6.2 million flats of marigolds were sold in 2005 at an average wholesale price of $8.49 a flat for a total of $52 million, an increase of 24% from 2000. Vegetables flat were also up approximately 12%, with 8.1 million flats at an average wholesale price of $9.49 this totaled $77 million. According to the survey, the annual wholesale sales of all plants classified as bedding plants increased from $1.7 billion in 2000 to slightly over $1.9 billion in 2005, an increase over 18%. It is evident that available dollars for gardening activities are enormous and increasing. The home garden seed industry must take an active role to capture more of this market share of this $1.9 billion wholesale market. Through HGSA, home garden seed companies can develop this new organization and strategize how to grow this segment of the seed business in this motivated gardening market. Contributed by: Mike Tate, Ferry-Morse Seed Company and HGSA member. Texas Seedsman Passes Thomas David Lowe passed away on Aug. 16, 2008. Born on June 1, 1923, in Arlington, Tex., he lived in Tyler, Tex., since 1949. Lowe retired from the East Texas Seed Company and was a member of the Texas Seed Association. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Leslie Jo Moseley Lowe; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim Lowe and Judy Braswell and Lacy and Vicki Lowe; one daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Jody Phillips; four granddaughters and two grandsons; six great-granddaughters and one great-grandson. ASTA and its members extend our condolences to his family.
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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Grain Handler's Database • Seed Quality Management • CSS 2008 & Seed Expo • 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference • 125th Annual Convention |