Seed E-News

September 22, 2006

Welcome to the newly launched ASTA electronic newsletter for members, allies and stakeholders. Please feel free to forward Seed E-News to others you believe might wish to subscribe. ASTA respects your privacy and does not share its mail lists with other parties. If you have received this publication in error, you may unsubscribe at the end of this page. Questions, comments and suggestions are welcome — contact Lisa Dry.

ASTA Executives Meet with USDA & Hill Leaders
ASTA's Executive Committee met in Washington with senior officials from USDA and congressional leaders September 13-15. During a half-day meeting at USDA, ASTA's leadership met with Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner(pictured here with ASTA Chairman Dr. Harry Collins, Delta & Pine Land Co.) , APHIS Administrator Dr. Ron DeHaven, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Lloyd Day, Ellen Terpstra, Foreign Agricultural Service, and James Murphy of USTR to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill, trade issues and intellectual property rights.

The following day the group traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with House Agriculture and Appropriations Committee members and staff including Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Tom Latham (R-IA), Adam Putnam (R-FL) and Dr. John Goldberg. Meetings with the Senate included Ag Committee staff Hayden Milberg and Martha Scott Poindexter, and Dr. Mark Keenum, chief of staff for Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS).

Invasive Species Director to Speak at Lawn & Seed Meeting
Lori Williams, Executive Director of the Invasive Species Council at the Department of Interior, will speak during the Invasive Species and Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee meetings held during the ASTA Farm and Lawn Seed Conference November 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo.

Williams provides overall direction on national and international invasive species policy development and serves as the principle Council contact at the national level with other Federal agencies, non- governmental organizations, states and local governments and tribes. She supervises the Council staff, reviews and recommends legislative proposals, and briefs top Federal officials regarding invasive species issues. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

USDA Awards $4.5 Million for Organic Research
Last week USDA Secretary Mike Johanns announced USDA has awarded more than $4.5 million in research grants to address organic agricultural issues and priorities, including global competitiveness. The eight grants to 13 states will focus on two areas: improving the competitiveness of organic producers, and assisting producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products.

Market Choices Program Updated for Corn Harvest
ASTA has updated Market Choices an industry-wide initiative to help farmers channel their biotech corn varieties to appropriate grain-handling facilities.

Biotech corn hybrids contain traits that are fully approved for food and feed use in the United States, but may not be fully approved in the European Union (EU). As a result, grain handlers separate these varieties from grain exported to EU markets. The program was developed in cooperation with the Corn Refiners Association and the National Corn Growers Association. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

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ASTA to Form Stewardship and Public Affairs Committees
ASTA leadership voted to add two standing committees to the association during its September 13-15 Executive Committee meeting in Washington. As ASTA's Board of Directors has acknowledged that stewardship is fundamental to the strategic priorities of the Association?with emphasis on state, national and international priorities and outreach to all ASTA publics?the group agreed to form a Standing Committee on Stewardship. ASTA member companies are encouraged to identify individuals within their organization with appropriate expertise and experience in the area of stewardship to provide input to ASTA staff. The Committee will meet regularly in order to develop an industry plan of action related to seed stewardship and to proactively address emerging issues related to membership education, outreach to governments, and outreach to ASTA stakeholders throughout the value chain. For more information contact Bernice Slutsky.

Another ASTA strategic priority is to communicate industry views to ASTA?s publics. The Executive Committee voted to form a Public Affairs committee comprised of communications professionals from member companies. The committee members will participate in periodic meetings to discuss cross- cutting industry issues, and anticipate and identify emerging issues that have the potential to negatively impact the reputation and image of the seed industry. The Committee will also seek opportunities to demonstrate to ASTA's publics the value and contributions of the seed industry to a better quality of life. For more information contact Lisa Dry.

Congress to Recess
Congress is scheduled to recess September 29 and return until after the November 7 elections. All 435 House seats are up for reelection as well as one-third of Senate seats.

ASTA Welcomes New Members
• Crippen Manufacturing Company of St. Louis
• MI Horizon Seeds Canada Inc. of Courtland, Ontario
• H&S Forest Products of Columbus, OH
• Kang's Packaging Solutions Inc. of Mississauga
• Ontario Palmetto Industries International Inc. of Augusta, GA
• Pasco Systems of St. Louis, MO
• Rapid Eye AG of Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
• Sharda Worldwide Exports Pvt. Ltd. of Mumbai, India
• Total Seed Production, Inc. of Tipton, IN

Upcoming Industry Events

Atlantic Seed Association Annual Meeting
10/14 - 10/17
Toronto, Canada
InterContinental Toronto Centre
Toronto, ON
Canada

Western Seed Association Meeting
ASTA Farm and Lawn Seed Meeting
11/4-11/7
Western Crown Center
Kansas City, MO

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events American Seed Trade Association