Seed E-News

October 20, 2006

Welcome to ASTA's 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 your industry news are welcome — contact Lisa Dry. Past issues can be viewed here .

Quick Links

New USDA/FAS Reports
• Republic of Korea: Planting seeds, annual report
• Chile: Biotech
• Egypt: Biotech
• France: Biotech
• Italy: Biotech
• New Zealand: Biotech
• Paraguay: Biotech
• Russian Federation: Biotech

Gearing Up for ASTA Farm & Lawn Seed Conference
ASTA’s Farm and Lawn Seed Conference will be held in conjunction with the Western Seed Association’s Annual Convention November 4 - 7 in Kansas City, Mo. The ASTA program will begin Sunday, Nov. 5 with meetings of the ASTA Invasive Species Working Group and the Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee. Invasive Species Working Group members will review state activities, the status of the nomination process for the Invasive Species Advisory Council and hear an update on the definitions being advanced by the Council and its implementation and management plan. The Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee will hear from the USDA Forest Service on the proposed Native Plant Policy and ASTA's comments.

The Farm Seed Division will meet Monday, Nov. 6, and will feature a special presentation on switchgrass by Ceres’ CEO Richard Hamilton. Ceres, a new ASTA member, has recently partnered with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to map the switchgrass genome and will address the use of energy crops for bio fuels.

The Lawn Seed Division will meet Monday, Nov. 6, and will hear updates on regulatory developments affecting creeping bentgrass and a review of the activities of the Perennial Ryegrass Bargaining Council. The members will also discuss efforts to implement the 15-month testing for cool season grasses. The Association of American Seed Control Officials has amended RUSSL, the Recommended Uniform State Seed Law to include this provision. ASTA's Board of Directors adopted a resolution in July to support this testing period. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

ASTA Members Set International Priorities
On October 5 and 6, ASTA’s International Executive Committee (IEC) met to develop a strategy to address international issues that are seed industry priorities. During the two-day session, the IEC discussed the range of international issues facing the seed industry and identified those issues that are fundamental to effectively conducting business in other countries. These key issues are: Enforcement of intellectual property rights and regulatory advocacy; phytosanitary issues and non-tariff trade barriers; and adventitious presence. First steps in developing a strategy for these issues were discussed. For more information, contact Bernice Slutsky.

CSS 2006 Registration Delay

Online registration for the CSS 2006 and Seed Expo December 5-8 in Chicago has been delayed due to the implementation of improved registration technology. The new system will allow for a more efficient registration process, a valuable match-making service and a virtual Seed Expo. ASTA is pleased to offer these new benefits to meeting attendees and is taking extra steps to ensure the system works flawlessly. As a result, meeting pre-registration has been extended up to one week prior to the conference. Printed registration forms are available and the printed registration brochure for the conference has been mailed to ASTA members and previous conference attendees.

Hotel reservations can be made now, and must be made by November 10, to receive ASTA's reduced rate at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. This page also offers a link to discounted airport shuttle reservations for ground transportation in Chicago. The official ASTA overflow hotel is the Sheraton Chicago; call (312) 464-1000 for reservations. ASTA appreciates your patience as we work to bring you a better registration experience in 2006. For more information contact Jennifer Lord.

Record-Breaking Attendance at Recent FuSE Event
On October 12, 27 individuals participated in the ASTA Future Seed Executives (FuSE) Educational Unit held at Pioneer Hi-Bred International headquarters in Johnston, Iowa. The sold out event featured a wide range of topics including: biofuels, end-use R&D and international opportunities, seed production improvements and biotech compliance. One highlight was a joint Q&A session featuring Pioneer President Dean Oestreich and Vice President, Supply Management Mike Gumina. Following the presentations, participants toured the Pioneer facilities. The event concluded with a case study concerning intellectual property rights that was moderated by Stephen Smith of Pioneer and Dermont Hays of Iowa State University.

FuSE, a sub-committee of ASTA's Management Skills Committee, was founded in 2004 and focuses on educating and supporting future seed industry executives with fewer than seven years of seed industry experience. The next FuSE activity will be a discussion group conference call on Friday, Nov. 10. The topic is "Regional Companies Winning in the Global Marketplace" and it will be moderated by Jeff Renk of Renk Seeds. To participate please complete the registration form and return it to ASTA. For more information on FuSE, please visit the FuSE web site or email info@futureseedexecutives.com.

Company News and People on the Move
Ryan Jeffries joins Columbia Seeds, LLC as National Sales Manager. Responsible for nationwide sales and marketing, he’ll remain in Denver, Colo., and lead the continued growth in turf and forage grass products.

Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids of Sheffield is one of three finalists that presented its business plan during the 7th annual Iowa Venture Capital and Entrepreneur Conference in Des Moines. Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids was awarded third place in the John Pappajohn Iowa Business Plan Competition and received a cash award of $10,000.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, and DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi- Bred International, Inc., announced this week that they will make their new family of insect resistant biotech traits more readily available to growers. The co-developers of the Herculex® family of insect resistance for corn have agreed to eliminate a provision that would have delayed when Dow AgroSciences could license Herculex RW Rootworm Protection and Herculex XTRA Insect Protection to other seed companies. The companies agreed to allow the making of molecular stacks with the Herculex traits, as well as breeding stacks with their own or other traits.

ASTA Welcomes New Member
• Cablevey Conveying Systems of Oskaloosa, IA

Upcoming Industry Events

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

2006 Corn Belt Seed Conference
Indiana Seed Trade Association
11/8 - 11/9
Marriott East Indianapolis, IN

104th Iowa Seed Association Annual Convention
11/13 - 11/14
Gateway Center
Ames, IA

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