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October 1 , 2008
Upcoming State Elections Have Potential to Change Legislative Dynamics All eyes have been on the upcoming federal elections in the United States, mainly that of the office of President, as well as control of the U.S. Congress. The outcome of these elections will produce changes in the leadership of the Administration and Congress. However, state-level elections are worth watching, as slight alterations in many of the states' leadership could produce a ripple effect at the federal level. Where are the party shift possibilities? The following details some of the state that could change hands:
A handful of other state legislative elections have the potential to shift parties. Because each of these states only have one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the impact of the election will mostly be felt in the future development of state-level policy. These include the House in Montana (49 D / 50 R), Delaware (19 D / 22 R) and Alaska (17 D / 23 R) and the Senate in North Dakota (21 D / 26 R) and South Dakota (15 D / 20 R).
Summit Addresses Major Challenges to Future Seed Research Seed innovation and technology play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel. Leaders in public and private sector seed research came together for the first American Seed Research Summit held Sept. 25-26 in Chicago. The U.S. seed industry, universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Science Foundation believed that the summit will help address the various hurdles facing seed research - training and education, funding, research trends, prioritization and public-private partnerships. The goal of the American Seed Research Summit was to bring together research leaders from industry, academia and government to identify major seed research challenges and to develop a national strategy and action plan to solve those challenges. Following the summit, the participants will continue to work together to implement the action plan and promote both public and private seed research agendas. Public-private partnerships will advance seed technology and innovation by addressing these challenges, as well as outlining the many opportunities for coordination and collaboration for the best synergies in seed research in the United States. Sponsored by ASTA, the American Seed Research Foundation and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders, over 40 representatives attended the two-day summit. Keynote speakers from USDA's Agricultural Research Service, the University of Wisconsin, Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and the Monsanto Company provided a snapshot of seed research today and the potential for tomorrow. Breakout sessions allowed participants to identify the key issues facing the seed industry and possible strategies to address them, which were discussed and prioritized by the group. "The seed industry and our public sector partners are eager to capture the exciting new possibilities seed research can offer America's farmers and the world," said Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and CEO. "This summit has been the first step in developing jointly a way forward for both private and public sectors to address any needs and gaps facing the industry so that we can best capitalize on these great opportunities." More information on the American Seed Research Summit will be provided in upcoming editions of the Seed E-News. Vegetable Seed Featured at FuSE Educational Unit
Fifteen participants from 10 companies gathered for the Future Seed Executives (FuSE) Educational Unit at Seminis in Woodland, Cal. The one-day program was attended by a broad group of seed industry representatives, from marketing to manufacturing to legal services. The Educational Unit featured an overview of Seminis Vegetable Seeds and the Monsanto Company focusing on their organization, product line and advances in research and development, which was followed by a tour of the Seminis facility. "Participants enjoyed learning more about Seminis and Monsanto's strategies and operations, especially the focus on R &D and the multi-channel approach to market," said Daniel Mondt with Monsanto Company. "For us as a host of the FuSE Educational Unit, we were excited about the opportunity to meet, network and exchange ideas with the future of the seed industry." A case study was presented by California Polytechnic State University Professor, Dr. Jim Ahern and Graduate Student Megan Judge and facilitated by Dr. Allen Van Deynze of the University of California-Davis Seed Biotechnology Center on the application of modern biotechnology in vegetable seed. The exercise provided a platform for the attendees to explore if improved nutrient content benefits outweigh consumers concern regarding biotech vegetables. The varied participants brought different perspectives in identifying the challenges to consumer acceptance of this technology in vegetables. "It was wonderful to see so many people from such diverse backgrounds come together to offer ideas, network, and learn from more experienced ASTA members," said Director of Organic Marketing, Development and Certification Susan Bassi, AgriCoat, LLC. "I look forward to the exciting opportunities and advancements in the seed industry. Thank you ASTA for coordinating this fantastic opportunity!" ASTA provides members many networking and training venues. For more information, please contact ASTA Director of Membership Services Jason Laney. Agri Marketing Magazine to Publish Salute to American Seed Trade Association ASTA and Agri Marketing magazine, Chesterfield, Mo., will partner to publish a Special Salute to ASTA. The estimated 48-page publication will include articles tracing the heritage of the seed industry, current updates on ASTA's initiatives and interviews with seed industry executives. "The Salute will be distributed as a special Supplement with the November issue of Agri Marketing magazine," said Publisher Lynn Henderson. "Copies will also be distributed at ASTA's 2008 Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference (Chicago, Dec 9-12), to ASTA member companies, Congressional leaders, regulatory agencies and other thought leaders. In addition to the print edition, the Salute will also be available digitally so it can be viewed on-line at www.AgriMarketing.com," Henderson said. "That substantially increases its availability and viewership, especially among the students, their advisors and the participating organizations." ASTA Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley said, "We are pleased to announce this special publication. It provides an opportunity to bring awareness to other agricultural businesses about the seed industry and the good work of our members." Agri Marketing, first published in 1962, is sent to over 8,000 corporate agribusiness executives, their marketing communication agencies, as well as trade associations, media and other professionals of the agriculture industry. ASTA and Seed Programs, Inc. to Partner with Ronald McDonald House On Feb. 8, 2009, "ASTA Gives Back" will continue with an exciting three-way partnership between ASTA, Seed Programs, Inc. (SPI) and the Ronald McDonald Charities of Tampa, host city of ASTA's 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference. A community-service program, "ASTA Gives Back" debuted in 2008 at the last Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference in New Orleans. Convention attendees will be offered the opportunity to lend a landscaping hand at the Serenity Garden of the Ronald McDonald House to beautify the area for its residents. The Ronald McDonald House, which offers temporary affordable housing for families whose children are hospitalized, will also conduct a special promotional campaign to commemorate Mother's Day by distributing packets of marigold flower seeds to donors, supporters and former residents. SPA, a non-profit organization who donates seed worldwide to developing nations in need, has partnered with ASTA to provide these seed packets for the project. Representatives from SPI will also provide a presentation at the general session of the 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference to bring awareness to seed companies of the opportunity to serve as donors for SPI's important work. Many ASTA members have already supported SPI, and this "ASTA Gives Back" partnership provides a new opportunity for ongoing collaboration and community spirit. Sponsorship and seed donation opportunities for both of the above projects are now available. To support the project as a sponsor or to provide a marigold flower seed donation to SPI, visit the new 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference sponsorship page or contact Jennifer Lord at the ASTA office for more information. Registration for CSS 2008 & SEED EXPO: New Programs & Discounts! Registration for CSS 2008 (the 63rd Corn and Sorghum Seed Research Conference and the 38th Soybean Seed Research Conference) and Seed Expo 2008 is now available online. Early registration rates are in effect until Nov. 15, after which the registration rates will increase by $75.00 in all attendee registration categories. New registration options this year offer greater accessibility than ever before to the newly-reformatted Seed Expo, which will be geared to all seed types and commodities, beyond the scope of just the corn, soybean and sorghum audiences. To that end, Day Passes to the Seed Expo will be available to any attendee for $50 for Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Thursday, Dec. 11. The "Exhibitor Marketplace" event on Tuesday, Dec. 9, serves as the "sneak preview" evening opening of the trade show and is once again free. Exhibitors may invite unlimited customers to their booth with a complimentary Day Pass to the Seed Expo. Attendees who are in production, plant operations or similar roles, or attendees who have not attended the show in the past five years, will also be able to receive a complimentary Day Pass to attend the Seed Expo. The CSS 2008 conference includes two and a half days of educational programming on current topics in soybean, corn and sorghum, as well as two general sessions on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Thursday, Dec. 11, covering topics relevant across all three commodities. The printed version of the Registration Brochure for this conference will arrive by mail to ASTA members and former conference attendees in the coming weeks. The conference will be held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency from Dec. 9-12, 2008. Register today (you will need your ASTA login to receive member registration rates) or visit the event's Web site to learn additional information about this annual December conference.
As the 110th U.S. Congress winds down, the financial situation and pending rescue package for Wall Street and Main Street have left adjournment dates for the House and the Senate to remain open as negotiations continue. Congressional members are anxious to adjourn and focus on the next month's historic elections where 23 Republican seats are open in the Senate, while the Democrats defend 12 seats. In the House of Representatives, all 435 seats are up, and of those, eight open seats are held by the Democrats, and 27 are held by Republicans. Meanwhile, the Presidential race will bring a new Administration. When the political dust settles after inaugurations in January, ASTA will be well positioned to address the many and varied issues facing the seed industry. They include: energy; Senate ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources; immigration; patent reform; climate change and food safety. The ongoing implementation of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 is another important policy of concern to the seed industry, and although some key programs have already been implemented, many remain for action in 2009. The new leadership also brings new faces, staff and a chance to educate and inform committees, agencies and departments on the seed industry perspective and experience. Because of the election, as well as the broad range of issues, ASTA will look beyond traditional contacts in the federal government to forward the agenda of the seed industry, as well as further any new opportunities these changes may bring. ASTA's leadership and influence is tied to the ability and interest of its members to meet with members of Congress and their staffs to promote, define and educate them on seed matters. Going forward this will be an extremely important time and challenge. Success will be measured in new markets, an environment which enables competition and prosperity, sensible regulations and a clear path to continued dialogue.
Argentina Grants One-Month Extension to New Import Requirements for Seed Corn In mid-September, ASTA learned that as of Oct. 1, Argentina would require imports of corn seed be certified free of Diabrotica (corn rootworm). After receiving feedback that this change would cause significant problems for ASTA members shipping corn seed to Argentina, ASTA asked USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to negotiate a delay in implementation. After several meetings and communications with APHIS and the Argentine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Argentina decided to grant a 30-day delay in implementing this new requirement. "We are very grateful for APHIS' support and prompt intervention as well as the understanding and quick response of the Argentine government in dealing with this issue," said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne.
Sept. 13-17 The 29th Annual State Agribusiness Associations meeting held in Kalispell. Mont., provided state association staff leadership with the opportunity to interact and compare policy and administrative techniques with each other. Representing seed interests for the first time were Executive Secretary of the Illinois Seed Trade Association Richard Denhart, Executive Vice President of the Iowa Seed Association Joan O'Brien, and ASTA Director of State Affairs Pat Miller. Specific topics included initiation of grassroots programming, fund-raising options, federal issues involvement, general association policy guidelines and an orientation session on seed issues. ASTA was a co-sponsor of the program and will be the host in 2010. Sept. 19 Marketing Specialist Yvonne Dock of the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service was given an orientation on ASTA by members of the staff. Attending the meeting were President and CEO Andy LaVigne, Vice President of Science and International Programs Bernice Slutsky, Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols, Director of Membership Services Jason Laney and Manager of International and Domestic Programming Jillian Barnett. The meeting was an opportunity to familiarize Dock with ASTA and the many issues the association addresses and what that means for export market development and seed trade. Sept. 19-24 ASTA Director of State Affairs Pat Miller participated in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture convention in Bismarck, N.D. Miller was able to meet with state agricultural policy leaders to network and discuss issues facing their respective states. Policy discussions ranged from specialty crops to biotechnology to security. A "Food vs. Fuel" panel outlined the role of agriculture in climate change policy. Sept. 23 ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVIgne was a featured guest on Farm Talk with Mick Kjar on KQLX AM 890 Farm and Information Radio and kqlx.com out of North Dakota. The interview allowed listeners to learn more about ASTA, the association's membership and mission, and the various issues facing the seed industry as well as the many opportunities seed innovation can bring to the future of agriculture. Forum Planned on Food and Fuel Debate The national debate over food and fuel uses of grain will be in the spotlight Oct. 23 in Kansas City, Mo., at a one-day forum being sponsored by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and co-hosted by the AgriBusiness Club of St. Louis; the Agri-Business Council of Wichita; the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee; Sosland Publishing; and Vance Publishing. The goal of the forum is to lead to a greater understanding of differing perspectives of the food and fuel discussion. "The sponsoring organizations have gone to great lengths to ensure the forum will be a neutral venue for the differing perspectives, offering each the opportunity to make its case in an objective fashion," said Bob Petersen, chairman of the Agricultural Business Council. The event, scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the American Royal (lunch provided), will be moderated by Mike Adams of Agri-Talk and will feature nationally-recognized speakers including: Morton Sosland, editor-in-chief, Sosland Publishing Company, Randy Schnepf, specialist in agricultural policy, Congressional Research Service, Ken McCauley, chairman, National Corn Growers Association, Blake Hurst, vice president, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, Robb MacKie, president, American Bakers Association, and Dan Gustafson, director, North American Liaison Office, Food and Agriculture Organization. The event costs $75 per person. Online information and registration is available on the Council's Web site. CAST Releases Special Publication on Gene Flow in U.S. Alfalfa On Sept. 25, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) announced the release of a new Special Publication — Gene Flow in Alfalfa: Biology, Mitigation, and Potential Impact on Production — to provide an overview of agronomic practices and biology to be considered in developing strategies that allow producers of conventional, organic and biotechnology-derived alfalfa to coexist in the marketplace. Alfalfa is an introduced, cultivated species in North America and the fourth largest U.S. crop by land area. Although the majority of the domestic market is not sensitive to genetically engineered alfalfa, portions of the domestic hay and seed markets and much of the export hay and seed markets are sensitive to adventitious presence-the unintended low level occurrence of seed or plant materials in a crop or crop products. As in all biological systems, and especially in field-scale agriculture, 100% purity of any constituent is very difficult to achieve and may not be possible economically. "This paper was written and reviewed by a 12-member task force of scientific experts," says CAST Executive Vice President John M. Bonner. "CAST is pleased to present this Special Publication as a timely overview of current developments and a preview of future applications in the study of gene flow in production crops." The full text of Gene Flow in Alfalfa: Biology, Mitigation, and Potential Impact on Production (Special Publication No. 28) is available in hardcopy and electronically through the CAST Web site at www.cast-science.org. CAST is an international consortium of 37 scientific and professional societies. It assembles, interprets and communicates credible science-based information regionally, nationally and internationally to legislators, regulators, policymakers, the media, the private sector and the public. Course Offered on Seed Biology, Production and Quality The Seed Biotechnology Center, together with the University of California-Davis Extension Service, is offering a two-day class focused on seed biology from March 25-26, 2009. The course is designed for professionals in the seed industry, crop consultants and growers to update and expand their current knowledge. Participations will learn fundamental and specialized information on topics including seed development, production, harvesting, testing, conditioning, enhancement, storage and quality assessment. Instructors for the updated course will include: Dr. Derek Bewley (University of Guelph, Canada), Dr. Henk Hilhorst (Wageningen University, The Netherlands) and Dr. Kent Bradford and Dr. Allen Van Deynze from the University of California-Davis. Watch for more information and registration details at http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/.
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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 |