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August 26, 2009
ASTA Creates Tools for the Seed Industry and Stakeholders ASTA offers a wide range of tools, as well as services, to its membership, the seed industry at large and various stakeholders throughout the agricultural community and society at large. Similar to the tools in your shed, a basic tool may be overlooked, but when you have a door that sticks or a faucet that leaks, a particular tool can be invaluable. Below is a summary of some of these tools and services ASTA leadership, members and staff have developed through their hard work and vision to help advance the industry as a whole. Over the coming months, ASTA will continue to offer new resources as well as keep current and improve those already available. Some of these resources are located in the password protected area of ASTA's Web site, the Members Only Section. If you are an ASTA member and need information regarding your login and password, please contact Barb Surian. Discover Something New and Dust Off Something Used
ASTA Prepares for Staff Transition The fall brings transition to ASTA. The end of August will mark the resignation of three ASTA staff members - Gretchen Flanley, vice president of communications, Jason Laney, director of membership, and Jillian Barnett, manager of international and domestic programming. Gretchen has decided to return to Pennsylvania to be closer to family and pursue her own consulting business in agriculture and development. Although her last day at ASTA is August 28, she will assist ASTA during the transition; Jason will pursue other opportunities in the association community; and Jillian will be leaving ASTA to pursue her career in her home state of West Virginia. Gretchen, Jason and Jillian have each contributed in advancing ASTA and its mission in a variety of ways. ASTA wishes them the best as they each pursue their new endeavors. For the time being, membership questions and inquiries should be referred to Ann Jorss, vice president of finance and administration. ASTA has initiated new staff recruitment. Candidate recommendations should be sent to Ann Jorss. Watch Seed E-News for future announcements as we add to the talent and experience of our staff. Seed Association of the Americas 2nd Congress Addresses Adventitious Presence in Seed The 2nd Congress of the Seed Association of the Americas (SAA) will be held Sept. 28-30 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The Congress will address the topics of adventitious presence and low-level presence in the afternoon session on Sept. 30. This session will bring together industry representatives and government officials from the region. The trade of seed is vulnerable to disruption because of the restrictions on seed movement related to the potential for low-level presence of biotechnology-derived seed authorized in one country to be present in commercial seed intended for planting in a country where the product is not yet authorized. Trade in seed is also potentially compromised by the lack of clarity around the levels of biotech seed in commercial non-biotech seed lots. This important session of the Congress will focus on both country experiences and policies and international efforts regarding low level presence and adventitious presence in seed. To learn more about the SAA Congress and to register, please click here. Best Exhibit Rates for Seed Expo 2009 Expiring Aug. 31! The early registration deadline for exhibitors at ASTA's Seed Expo 2009 is Aug. 31, after which exhibit registration rates increase by $400. The largest seed industry exhibition in the country, the Seed Expo, being held Dec. 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, attracts nearly 2,500 attendees and 110 exhibitors each year. The Seed Expo, which is held in conjunction with the Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference (CSS) was formerly geared towards the corn, sorghum and soybean audiences in attendance. The expo was re-branded last year to reach out to audiences across all commodities in the seed industry, featuring exhibitors from packaging to testing to transportation to field equipment and much, much more. Exhibit registration includes two free individual registrations to the conference and the added benefit of unlimited complimentary day passes that exhibitors may distribute to their customers. New for 2009, ASTA's Associates Division has established the "Exhibitor Success Center," helping exhibitors achieve the best return on investment for their participation at this or any trade show at which they display, offering pre- and post-show essential guidelines for marketing their company. A private on-site exhibitor training session will also be held at the expo by renowned trade show consultant Fred Fox. Visit Seed Expo 2009 to learn additional information about this annual trade show and its related conference, CSS 2009. Sponsorship Opportunities for ASTA's 127th Convention Year Now Available The opportunity to support ASTA's next four conventions, including brand new opportunities for the Farm & Lawn Seed Conference, in addition to those for the CSS 2009 and Seed Expo, the 49th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, and the 127th Annual Convention, are now available through a series of menus on ASTA's sponsorship Web site. Two categories of sponsorships are available for the year: Annual Sponsors and Convention Sponsors. The Annual Sponsors category offers the opportunity for a company to serve as the sole sponsor for a single item for the entire year of conventions, with a wide range of options from hospitality host up to the exclusive Platinum Sponsor for all ASTA conventions. Convention sponsor menus offer convention-specific opportunities to allow companies to target their sponsorship dollars to the ASTA audience that best serves their needs. Sponsorship opportunities are first made available to previous sponsors before a new sponsor can reserve an item. The deadline for sponsors to secure the previous year's sponsorship is Oct. 31. To reserve a sponsorship, click to download the sponsorship form on any of the pages linked above. Questions on sponsorship can be directed to ASTA Director of Meetings and Services Jennifer Lord. National Plant Board (NPB) Holds Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City ASTA's Senior Director for Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle attended the NPB meeting from Aug. 9-13, on behalf of the Association. Also represented were the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA), the Society of American Florists (SAF) and the Nature Conservancy. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was well represented, including Deputy Administrator Rebecca Bech and Associate Deputy Administrator Paul Eggert. In addition, Javier Trujillo from Mexico, Greg Stubbings from Canada and Ian McDonell, executive director of the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), participated in the meeting. The NPB is comprised of the plant regulatory heads from each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. On the agenda were a number of topics of interest and concern to ASTA including status of the newly formed NAPPO Seed Panel, the new National Clean Plant Network (NCPN), status of the IPM and industry PIPE programs and updates on the implementation of Farm Bill sections 10201 (emergency preparedness and response) and 10202 (accreditation and certification). While at the meeting, Dunkle conducted several side meetings with these officials to discuss the interests and concerns of the seed industry. In particular, he met with APHIS officials in regard to exploring the use of newly acquired Farm Bill funding for investing in the National Seed Health System (NSHS) to develop and certify urgently needed new seed diagnostic methods and inspection procedures and to increase commitments to the I-PIPE program for database development and enhancing surveillance and predictive modeling technologies for pathogens and pests of concern to the seed industry. "This was an excellent opportunity for networking with many key individuals and decision makers to discuss the issues and seek resolutions," noted Dunkle. "It's rare when so many are at the same meeting." ASTA to Participate in the 7th China Agriculture Trade Fair (CATF) Organized by China's Ministry of Agriculture, CATF will be held at the Changchun International Exhibition Center in Jilin Province from Sept. 7-11. ASTA will partner with CropLife International to have a booth focused on intellectual property rights. In 2008, over 1,300 exhibitors from 11 countries participated in the trade show while over 15,000 from 36 countries visited the fair. The exhibits will represent all aspects of agriculture consisting of eight sections, including livestock, agricultural machinery, food processing equipment and an agricultural products show among others. For more information on the 2009 CATF click here or e-mail Lisa Nichols. ASTA Confirms Seed Program for Afghan Officials ASTA received approval from USDA to utilize cooperator funds to coordinate a series of briefings and site visits with members of the Afghanistan National Seed Organization and the U.S. seed industry in Turkey from Sept. 24-30. The U.S. delegation will include ASTA members: Kelly Keithly, Keithly-Williams Seed Company; Mike Gumina, Pioneer Hi-Bred, International, a DuPont business; Chet Boruff, Association of Official Seed Analysts; John Gerard, Access Plant Technology and ASTA Vice President for Government Affairs Leslie Cahill. The technical visit program includes stops at a number of labs, fields and seed facilities. ASTA members will highlight various aspects of the seed industry, including certification; benefits of trade associations; quality seed; and public/private business relationships. USDA is helping Afghanistan revitalize its agricultural sector through a variety of activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of its government and rebuilding agricultural markets, including quality seed programs and improving management of natural resources. ASTA Committees: Involvement = Greater Value Intellectual Property Committee Description: Current Activities: Next Scheduled Meeting: Key Contacts:
2010 Taipei International Gardening and Horticulture Exposition Announced. The event will host 15 themed display sites using over 91 hectares of the finest areas at the heart of Taipei City from Nov. 6, 2010, through April 25, 2011. It offers an excellent stage to showcase professional gardening and horticultural industries seeking business opportunities in Asia. Taipei City Government and the Taiwan Floricultural Association are organizers of the exposition. As an international exhibitor, companies are invited to demonstrate their products and compete at the 2.1 hectares of land themed Global Garden Area, which is located in a neighborhood traditionally known for its cultural vibe. To find out more on the Expo, visit the Web site www.2010taipeiexpo.tw. The application deadline for exhibition has been extended. For further information, please contact the Taiwan Trade Center in New York at 212-904-1677 or via email at cecilia@taitra.org.tw.
Government Reports USDA
USDA/ ARS
USDA/ AHPIS USDA/ ERS
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. |