Seed E-News

December 1, 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 .

Speaker Updates for CSS Conference

Concurrent Corn Session II: Economics and Utilization – Thursday, Dec. 7 from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. Dan Basse of Chicago-based AgResource has just been added to the program with a presentation titled “Global Investment Perspective on the Development and Use of Corn and Vegetable Oils.” Basse is founder and president of AgResource, a domestic and international agricultural advisory and research firm, which forecasts domestic and world agricultural price trends. Raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, Dan has applied his keen sense of agriculture in positions at GNP Commodities and Professional Farmers of America. Dan is often quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, as well as making guest appearances on CNN, CNBC, and NBC and ABC network news. His presentation will provide a global perspective on the impact of bio fuels in world agriculture.

Joint Soybean Seed and Corn & Sorghum Seed Session – Thursday, Dec. 7. Bob Dinneen of the Renewable Fuels Association has been replaced by Ted Crosbie, vice president for breeding of Monsanto. Crosbie will provide a presentation on improved corn yields through breeding, genomics and biotechnology, and a new corn processing system that will make dry mill ethanol plants more productive and improve feed co-products.

Soybean Session III – 1- 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6. A third presentation, "Soy Pathology Report” will be delivered by David Wright of the North Central Soybean Research Program in “Soybean 101.”

Iowan Joins ASTA as Research Assistant
Ria Misra joined ASTA last month as a Research Assistant in International and Governmental Affairs. Ria is a graduate of Macalester College with a degree in Political Science and International Studies. Before coming to ASTA, she interned in public health and writing. Her career interests are science and policy, international relations and writing. Ria will be working on a variety of projects with ASTA’s International and Governmental Affairs departments, as well as designing a web site on national and international seed regulations. If she looks familiar, it may be because you know her father, Dr. Manjit Misra , director of the Iowa State University Seed Science Center.

Illinois and Indiana Schedule Seed Conditioning Workshop
The 2007 Illinois/Indiana Seed Conditioning Workshop and Indiana Crop Annual Conference are scheduled for February 7-9, in Indianapolis. The conference program features presenters focusing on the changing landscapes and demographics in agriculture. A special program is “Integrated Bio- Fuels Systems.” For more details and registration information, visit the ICIA web site.

AgVenture's Groepper to Lead Iowa Seed Association
Members of the Iowa Seed Association (ISA) elected Jim Groepper as their president for the 2006-2007 year term at the 104th Iowa Seed Association annual convention held recently in Ames, Ia. Groepper, who is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for AgVenture, Inc. of Kentland, Ind., has served on the Iowa Seed Association board of directors for the past four years. Groepper accepted the gavel from outgoing president Mike Bielenberg of Syngenta.

Characteristics of U.S. Farm Businesses and Farm Households
This week the USDA Economic Research Service released a report titled "Farm Business and Household Survey Data: Customized Data Summaries" from the annual Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). This data-delivery tool has been updated with structure and financial status and performance of U.S. farm operators, their households and businesses; status and trends in crop production practices for several field crops, and annual production costs and returns and published accounts for major field crop and livestock commodities. In addition, there are first-ever state level estimates of farm financial status and performance for 15 states.

India Seed Groups Form New Organization
This week the Times of India reported that the country's four major seed associations have merged to form the National Seed Association of India (NSAI). According to The Times, “the new body hopes to rope in most state level associations to emerge as the representative forum for India's seed industry." The merger was announced on Monday after representatives of the Indian Seed Industry Association, Seed Association of India, Association of Seed Industry and All India Crop Biotechnology Association met to develop a program and select officers.

Company News and People on the Move
Professional Seed Research Inc. (PSR) of Sugar Grove, Ill., introduces PSR Global Genetics LLC, a new corn genetics company. The company is offering independent proprietary genetics to the seed industry for breeding and licensing arrangements. Read more...

ASTA Welcomes New Members
Affiliate:
• Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
• McDowell & Associates, LTD, St. Louis, MO
• AOCS, Urbana, IL
Active:
• Miller Hybrids, Iowa City, IA
• Roth Seed Co., Inc., Phillipsburg, KS
• Sabre Initiatives, LLC, Willmar, MN
Associate:
• The Gabrick Group, Lawrence, KS
• DBN Technologies, LLC, Miami, FL

Upcoming Industry Events

Oregon Seed Growers League 66th Annual Convention
12/4 - 12/5
Red Lion Hotel on the River, Jantzen Beach
Portland, OR

NYFB State Annual Meeting
12/5 - 12/7
Albany Marriott
Albany, NY

ASTA 61st Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference and Seed Expo
12/5 - 12/8
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, IL

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events