Seed E-News

December 22, 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 . Due to the holidays, the next issue of Seed E-News will be published January 5, 2007.

Quick Links

• FuSE 2007 Calendar

Special Rates for ASTA Meeting to End Soon

Early conference registration rates are available until January 12 for ASTA’s 46th Annual Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, to be held February 3 – 6 at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz. Discounted room rates of $169 are available until January 5. Reservations can be made by calling (520) 742- 6000 and asking for the American Seed Trade Association rate or clicking here. Guests at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa enjoy a temperate climate that is comfortable any time of year. Rated as an AAA Four Diamond Resort, the hotel offers spectacular views of the lush Sonora Desert and access to such landmarks as the Colossal Cave and the Kitt Peak Observatory (above).

Registration schedules, conference description, and a registration form can be found on ASTA’s Web site. The conference offers cutting- edge programming with speakers from the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the Specialty Crops Initiative, among many more to be announced. The schedule features several new meetings including a State and Regional Associations workshop and the new ASTA Communications and Stewardship Committees. The convention also includes a pool-side SuperBowl reception on Sunday, Feb. 4 and the ever- popular Trading Room, the center of business networking and nearly 22 exhibitor companies thus far. For more information contact Jennifer Lord.

USDA ARS Geneticist Receives Public Breeder Award
Dr. Jerry Miller received the Genetics and Plant Breeding Award at the American Seed Trade Association meeting held in Chicago, Ill., December 6-8. Dr. Miller is a Research Geneticist in the Sunflower Research Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, in Fargo, N.D. Miller was cited for his many contributions to sunflower improvement during his 31- year career with the USDA. His achievements include a key role in the successful conversion by the U.S. sunflower industry from a highly polyunsaturated sunflower oil to a highly monounsaturated oil called NuSun(TM). Miller was also recognized for his development and release of the first herbicide- resistant sunflower germplasm, and for numerous sunflower lines with enhanced disease resistance. The award, sponsored by the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders (NCCPB), honors a plant breeder who has made outstanding basic contributions to the advancement of plant breeding and genetics in the public sector. For more information contact Dr. Brady Vick.

ASTA RVP Addresses Northwestern Seed Industry Meeting
Last week Regional Vice President Kevin Turner (The Scotts Company) represented ASTA at the Idaho Eastern Oregon Seed Association in Boise, Idaho. Among topics of interest to the approximately 200 attendees were state preemptive legislation and the upcoming farm bill.

Regional Seed Association formed in Central Asia
Last week, the Central Asia Seed Association (CASA) was established in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to support seed producers’ and seed companies’ interests at a regional level. The group will work to harmonize seed regulations; encourage contacts between seed companies and facilitate seed trade. The members are the National Seed Associations of Central Asian Countries, and individual companies.

The establishment of CASA is been supported by the Swedish Sida-funded project “Support to Seed Sector Development in the Republic of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.” The Svalöf-Scanagri consortium is providing technical assistance to CASA and other key beneficiary organizations to aid the Kyrgyz and Central Asian seed industry to become more commercially sustainable.

Pictured above are representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the 1st CASA conference held in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, December 7-8.

USDA Issues New Organic Food Production Report
USDA's Economic Resesearch Service (ERS) reports that in 2005, for the first time, all 50 U.S. states had some certified organic farmland. This data set surveys organic operations and acreage for crops and livestock (over 40 commodities), with some tables dating back to 1992. Data for 2000-2005 include the number of certified operations, by state.

Company News and People on the Move
Seedway, LLC of Hall, New York, has acquired the commercial vegetable seed business assets of Chesmore Seed, St. Joseph, Mo. Seedway will offer its commercial vegetable seed product line to Chesmore Seed dealers and customers throughout the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains states. Seedway’s Elizabethtown, Penn., location will maintain seed inventory and provide customer service.

Upcoming Industry Events

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting
1/7 - 1/9
Jackpot Junction, MN

American Farm Bureau Annual Convention
1/7 - 1/10
Salt Lake City, UT

Louisiana Seedsmen Association Winter Meeting
1/8 - 1/10
Best Western Hotel Acadiana
Lafayette, LA

Pacific Seed Association & Field Seed Institute
Joint Annual mid-year meeting
1/10 - 1/12
Bahia Resort, Mission Bay
San Diego, CA

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events