Seed E-News

April 9, 2004

USDA signs agreement with American Seed Trade Association
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to promote better exchange of seed technology. "This partnership will ensure that quality native seed is available for future conservation efforts. Native seed supplies are essential and must be available for conservation program participants," Knight said.

The NRCS Plant Materials Program selects plants that are important to conservation efforts and develops innovative planting technologies that make the plants more effective in solving conservation concerns. The program includes a network of 26 plant materials centers that work with commercial seed producers to make sure that high quality seed needed for conservation work is available. In addition, NRCS works closely with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to make recommendations for reseeding after wildfires and other major disturbances, as well as to improve rangeland quality in the West. The five-year MOU to exchange cultivation information and technology extends to those activities of ASTA, the NRCS Plant Materials Program and related programs that apply to conservation of natural resources.

Signatories to the MOU were Knight and Dick Crowder, ASTA President and CEO.

Veneman names Nation's Top Vet as APHIS Administrator
In Washington DC on April 9, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the appointment of Dr. Ron DeHaven as administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). As APHIA administrator, DeHaven will manage programs that critical to the protection of America's livestock, plants and food supply. DeHaven replaces Bobby Acord, who retired on April 3, after almost 38 years of federal service. To read the USDA news release, please follow this link Release.

ASTA 121st Annual Convention
You can now register on-line for the Annual Convention in Philadelphia in June. To register, please follow this link Registration. Registrants should be aware that on May 21, 2004, registration fees for members and non-members will increase. You are encouraged to register early to take advantage of the reduced fees. For more information about the Annual Convention, please see the links in Upcoming Events at the foot of the page.

USDA grants Protection to 17 New Plant Varieties
In Washington, DC on April 5, the US Department of Agriculture issued certificates of protection to developers of 17 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include bean, cotton, potato, soybean and wheat. The 17 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 17 certificates are:

• the Oz variety of garden bean, developed by Syngenta Seeds, Inc., Boise, ID;
• the GC-120, GC-500 and GC-271 varieties of cotton, developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, IA;
• the AP 6101, AP 4103 and AP 6102 varieties of cotton, developed by Stoneville Pedigreed Seed Company, Memphis, TN.;
• the Sure-Grow 150R variety of cotton, developed by D&PL Technology Holding Corporation, Scott, MS.;
• the Sure-Grow 747 and Sure-Grow 105 variety of cotton, developed by Sure-Grow Seed, Centre, AL.;
• the Dp HTO Pima variety of cotton, developed by Olvey & Associates, Inc,. Maricopa, AZ.;
• the Fibermax 832 variety of cotton, developed by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Campbell, Australia;
• the AP 7115 variety of cotton, developed by Emergent Genetics, Inc., Memphis, TN;
• the FL 2027 variety of potato, developed by Frito-Lay North America, Inc., Plano, TX;
• the Amandine variety of potato, developed by Germicopa S.A., Cedex, France;
• the DP 5655 variety of soybean, developed by D&PL Technology Holding Corporation, Scott, MS; and
• the Baker's White* variety of common wheat, developed by Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO.

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).

US Fights Soybean Rust
Efforts were stepped up this week to provide US farmers with tools to fight Asian soybean rust, the devastating fungus-caused disease that can cut crop yields by half or more. On Tuesday, April 6, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved emergency use of the fungicide myclobutanil in South Dakota and Minnesota to treat soybean rust. Under EPA rules, states and agencies can make requests for Section 18 quarantine exemptions that allow use of chemicals that have been well tested by scientists. Other states are working to receive the Section 18 exemption, according to Dow AgroSciences, which sells formulations of myclobutanil called Laredo EC and Laredo EW. For more, follow this link Soybean Rust.

EU GM Risk Assessment Under the Spotlight
At the request of the European Commission, the GMO panel at the Brussels-based European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) put together a detailed document to assist applicants in the preparation and presentation of applications for GM plants and derived food and feed. Comments on the guidance document issued by EFSA are invited by 30 April, 2004. For more on the story, please follow this link Risk Assessment. The guidance document itself can be found by following this link Guidance.

EU Organic Logo to Become Compulsory
The use of the European Union's currently hardly known organic label is to become compulsory as provided for in the European Action Plan, which is to be passed shortly.Ê Many well-known figures in the organic industry have already spoken out against this logo seeing a risk of confusion with other EU logos of similar appearance.Ê EU Agriculture Commissioner Fischler on the other hand thinks that compulsory use of the organic label would promote the sale of organic products.Ê An information campaign is to publicize the blue label with the circle of stars and an ear of corn in the middle.Ê Fischler assumes that the market for organic products will remain a niche market, but could achieve a share of up to 15 % - current share in the EU is around 3 %.

Seed Technologist Training Workshops
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc., of Brookings, SD, is hosting seed technologist training workshop May 3-7, 2004. The workshop sessions are designed for seed analysts, seed technologists, quality assurance personnel and others interested in traditional and genetic seed testing analysis. Sessions include Purity and Seed Identification, Genetics, Tetrazolium (TZ) Testing, and Seed Germination and Vigor. Participants may attend any or all sessions. The format of the workshop includes lecture and hands-on experience. Agendas, a Registration Form and Travel/lodging information are available on Mid-West Seed Services' website, www.mwseed.com/workshops.htm. The workshop will be credited towards RST/RGT continuing education. If you have questions, or to register, please contact Mid-West Seed Services, Inc., 236 32nd Ave. Brookings, SD 57006. Phone 605-692-7611 or via email workshops@mwseed.com.

Tanzania Working on GM Crops Policy Options
Tanzania, in east Africa, is drafting a policy on GM crops in preparation adopting the technology, which some advocates consider a necessity for the future of food production. The country's Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Charles Keenja, said in Dar es Salaam last week that the country had taken no clear position" on GM products to date but that Tanzania cannot avoid this technology although it is important is to put in place mechanisms and guidelines on how it would be introduced. For more on this story, follow this link Tanzania.

Germany Plants GM Wheat
This week, Syngenta planted GM wheat on farmland in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in former East Germany — the first-ever open air planting of its kind in the country. The planting of the wheat, which is expected to have better protection against fungal infections, took place while 30 police officers guarded the area. The wheat is expected to be ready for harvest in September and will be destroyed except for a few plants that will be used for research. Saxony-Anhalt also plans to conduct tests with genetically modified corn and has set aside ¥100 million ($129 million) for research.

PVPO Seeks Nominations for the Plant Variety Protection Board:
The Plant Variety Protection Office is seeking nominations by April 30, 2004 for the Plant Variety Protection Board to be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Under the Plant Variety Protection Act, ãthe Board shall consist of individuals who are experts in various areas of varietal developmentä which is interpreted to include plant breeding, seed increase, certification, merchandising and use. Membership of the Board ãshall include farmer representation and shall be drawn approximately equally from the private or seed industry sector and from the sector of government or the public". The PVPO Board consists of 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a 2-year period, with no member appointed for more than three 2-year periods. The term of the present board will expire in June 2004. The first meeting of the new Board will most likely be held in the spring of 2005.Ê In order to provide the Secretary of Agriculture a broad choice, from a diverse group of applicants, in appointing Board members, the PVPO is asking for nominations of person(s) for membership on the Board, to serve for two years from the date of appointment.Ê Expenses will be covered by USDA. For more information on this, and how to apply, please follow this link PVPO.

USDA Seek Nominations to Fill Vacancies on National Organic Standards Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on March 8 that it is seeking nominations to fill five upcoming vacancies on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Successful candidates will be appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman to serve a 5-year term of office commencing January 24, 2005, and terminating January 24, 2010. The NOSB is a 15-member board responsible for developing and recommending to the Secretary a proposed National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on all other aspects of the National Organic Program.

USDA is asking for nominations to fill the following five upcoming NOSB vacancies: organic producer (two positions), organic handler, retailer, and environmentalist. To serve on the NOSB, an individual must be either an owner or operator of an organic production operation, an owner or operator of an organic handling operation, an individual who owns or operates a retail establishment with significant trade in organic products, or an individual with expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation. USDA will follow equal opportunity practices in all appointments to the NOSB. Written nominations, accompanied by resumes, must be postmarked on or before June 14, 2004, and sent to:

Ms. Katherine E. Benham
Advisory Board Specialist, National Organic Program
USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268
Washington, D.C. 20250

For more information, contact Ms. Katherine Benham on (202) 205-7806, by fax on (202) 205-7808 or by e-mail at katherine.benham@usda.gov. For more information on the National Organic Standards Board, check out the web site at www.ams.usda.gov/nosb/.

World Conference on Organic Seed
On July 5-7, 2004, a conference for stakeholders in the organic seed sector will be held at the headquarters of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. Delegates are expected to include scientists, plant breeders, seed producers, farmers, certifiers, and others interested in organic farming and seed production. ASTA is represented on the conference organizing committee by Frederick "Chip" Sundstrom of the California Crop Improvement Association. The conference is sponsored by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), the FAO and the International Seed Federation. The focus of the conference will be on the scientific and technical aspects of organic seed issues and participants will also evaluate regulatory requirements. Registration information and a provisional program can be found by visiting www.organicseedconf.org.

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

Upcoming Events

May 24-26, 2004
International Seed Federation Congress
Berlin, Germany
www.worldseed2004.com

June 27-30, 2004
121st ASTA Annual Convention
Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
For more information on this joint meeting with the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, please follow this link Speakers.

November 7-8, 2004
ASTA 50th Farm & Lawn Seed Conference
Westin Crown Center
Kansas City, MO

December 8-10, 2004
ASTA 34th Soybean & 59th Corn & Sorghum Conferences and Seed Expo 2004
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL
Tel: 1-888.890.7333

January 22-25, 2005
ASTA 44th Vegetable & Flower Conference
Grand Hyatt San Francisco
San Francisco, CA.

June 19-22, 2005
122nd ASTA Annual Convention
Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Tower
Seattle, WA

July 7-14, 2006
Joint ASTA-CSTA Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL