Seed E-News

December 30 , 2007

Welcome to ASTA's electronic newsletter for members, allies and stakeholders. Please feel free to forward the Seed E-News to others you believe might wish to receive news about the seed industry. Questions, comments and your industry news are welcome — contact Jason Laney at ASTA. Past issues can be viewed here .

Enhance Your Company's Presence in a Piece of ASTA History

ASTA will be including in its pictorial history book, entitled 125 Years of the American Seed Trade Association, a listing of all current ASTA member companies during this anniversary year. If your company would like to upgrade or enhance your listing in this book, sponsorship opportunities are available for a larger listing or for a half to full page sponsorship. Contact Jennifer Lord to enhance your company's presence in this piece of ASTA history.

ASTA's CSS 2007 and Seed Expo Breaks Records, Enjoys Increased Attendance

Fear No Ice performance kicked off the new Seed Expo Exhibitor Marketplace.

This year's CSS Conference was attended by more than 2,500 participants and included programming that addressed cutting edge industry topics such as the next generation of herbicide tolerant traits, food vs. fuel, genomics, and breeding & genetics, among others.

The Seed Expo tradeshow enjoyed a 15% increase in exhibitor participation and had numerous enhanced features including the new Exhibitor Marketplace, which kicked off the tradeshow on Tuesday night, several new exhibitors including Dodge, the show's first automobile exhibitor, a new FuSE Career Lounge and increased traffic throughout the show.

The convention kicked off with an address by Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner (pictured at right), who briefed the audience on the current status of the Farm Bill reauthorization and addressed the important role that the seed industry plays in the record $82 billion of U.S. agricultural products being exported. In addition to the Farm Bill, Secretary Conner noted that agriculture's market-driven focus has created a more efficient industry which is proving economically beneficial to America's farmers.

Following his address at the Opening General Session, Secretary Conner met with members of ASTA's Board of Directors to further discuss issues of key importance to the seed industry. ASTA's President and CEO, Andy LaVigne, commented that "it is a unique and privileged opportunity to have a speaker from the President's Cabinet address such timely issues of vital importance to the agricultural industry. We are pleased that Secretary Conner took time out of his busy schedule to speak to our audience during this critical time for the agricultural community."

Plans are already underway to continue to enhance programs and convention features for next year's CSS 2008 and Seed Expo.

ASTA's Officers and CEO pictured above with acting secretary Chuck Conner

Registration Deadlines Approaching; Hotel Block Closing for Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference

ASTA's 47th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, being held January 22 - 25, 2008 at the Sheraton New Orleans, is already experiencing record-breaking numbers with huge support from ASTA attendees in bringing the convention to New Orleans, where convention business is so badly needed. The city is back and better than ever with more restaurants open in the city than ever before, downtown renovations completed and the early preparations for Mardi Gras, just two weeks after the ASTA convention, already underway.

The convention promises another well-attended and valuable experience of networking and educational opportunities, including meetings of the International, Phytosanitary, Organic, Intellectual Property Rights, Biotechnology and Stewardship Committees, the Opening General Session and Vegetable & Flower Division meetings featuring prominent industry and food chain speakers, a Mardi Gras-themed Welcome Reception sponsored by Syngenta Seed Care, the ASTA Gives Back volunteer project at the New Orleans City Park, a Spouse/Guest Luncheon that travels to a nearby plantation for a tour, a TPC golf course for the ASTA golf tournament, and much much more.

Registration is now open for early registration until January 4, after which registration prices will increase by $50. Click here to register for the conference. The ASTA group block of rooms, at $165 per night, also expires on January 4; however, the block is already filled to capacity. Contact Jennifer Lord at ASTA if you need assistance making reservations at the Sheraton.

Conference Schedule Changes

Please note the following changes in the Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference Schedule.

Biotechnology Committee – The Biotechnology Committee will now meet at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 24.

Communications Committee – The Communications Committee will not meet at the Conference.

Bacterial Fruit Blotch Committee – The Bacterial Fruit Blotch Committee will now meet at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23.

Legislative Update from Washington

Senate Passes Farm Bill

On December 14, the United States Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill. Known as the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, the measure passed by a vote of 79-14 and will need to be reconciled with the House version before being sent to President Bush.

The Senate and House versions contain additional funding for specialty crops, conservation, energy programs and organic agriculture. The $286 billion farm bill affects all of agriculture, significantly influences trade and research activities and impacts consumers, farmers, ranchers and the seed industry.

Conferees will be named in early 2008. ASTA will following the process closely and report back to the membership as developments warrant.

President Signs Bill Boosting Fuel Standards

On December 19, President Bush signed into law legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into the market and require wider use of ethanol. The measure requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also ramps up production of ethanol use to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022.

For more information on federal legislative issues, please contact Leslie Cahill.

State of the States . . . New York

Two weeks ago, at the New York State Seed Association Annual Meeting, the association membership passed two motions regarding governmental initiatives being pursued by the seed industry.One bill supports mandatory arbitration for seed dispute resolution while the other endorses state seed law pre-emption over local government laws. Included in each resolution was the desire to include the language provided by ASTA for the changes.

In a related action last week, the New York Farm Bureau membership passed resolutions to support similar arbitration and pre-emption language. As a result, the New York State Seed Association sent a letter to the New York State Department of Ag and Markets to include arbitration language in the current re-write of the seed law.

With the endorsement of pre-emption, the seed industry will pursue legislation in 2008 to make the initiative law. ASTA provided membership support materials to the New York Farm Bureau for their consideration of the resolutions. ASTA member and New York Farm Bureau director Ritchie Lent provided critical input for both issues. At this point, other agricultural organizations in the state are being pursued for their endorsement of both activities, as well.

ASTA member, John Uvegas of Seedway, was elected President of the New York State Seed Association for the coming year.

For more information on state affairs, contact Pat Miller.

Syngenta Pitches in on ASTA Anniversary Project

ASTA Past President Fred Clark (pictured below with Teri Hunter) and ASTA staff visited the Boise headquarters of ROGERS Brand and Syngenta Seeds to catalog the company's vast collection of historical archives for use at ASTA's 125th Anniversary Annual Convention next June in Orlando.

Aided by Teri Hunter and Dan Burdett of Syngenta, Mr. Clark identified close to 80 historical photos, articles, advertisments and more, which will be used in a special pictorial history book on the association, a retrospective video tribute, and a physical display at the convention itself, being held June 21 - 25, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Particular pieces of interest included photos from some of the earliest ASTA Annual Conventions, a copy of the Seedsmen's Creed, articles on commodity pricing and industry advancements over the years, and much more.

If your company has historical information related to ASTA or the seed industry in general and would like to lend or contribute your items for use in ASTA's 125th Anniversary celebration, contact Jennifer Lord.

Commemorative 125th Anniversary Ornaments Unveiled at Recent ASTA Conference

ASTA unveiled at the 2007 CSS Conference new 125th Anniversary ornaments. These commemorative items can be purchased for only $15.00 each and make wonderful accents for offices and homes. To purchase an ornament, please email Jason Laney.

Supplies are limited, so purchase your 125th Anniversary ornament today.

ISF Arbitration Announcement

ISF Secretariat:

According to Article 18.4 of ISF Procedure Rules for Dispute Settlement for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes and for the Management of Intellectual Property, we inform you that the two companies SUBA FRANCE Sarl and SUBA & UNICO, respectively based in France and Italy, have not fulfilled their obligations arising from a final ISF arbitration award. It must be noted that this information does not prevent the possibility for the two above-mentioned companies to exercise other judicial appeals. Should that be the case, we would inform you accordingly.

Please note that as per Article 18.5 of the ISF Procedure Rules those two companies are, from now onwards, barred from participating in ISF activities and congresses.

For more information, please contact ISF Secretary General Bernard Le Buanec.

Energizing Rural America in the Global Marketplace: USDA's 84th Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum

February 21-22, 2008
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
Arlington, Virginia

Don't miss USDA's 84th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum as the Secretary of Agriculture and government, farm, and industry leaders discuss the future of American agriculture. Plenary speakers will include the Secretary of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson.

Jean-Mari Peltier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, will moderate the distinguished plenary panel discussing "Getting It Right: Responding to Market Forces." Representing industry viewpoints on trade, consumer, and biotech issues will be panel members C. Larry Pope, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smithfield Foods; Thomas E. Stenzel, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Fresh Produce Association; and Paul Schickler, Vice President and General Manager, DuPont, and President, Pioneer Hi-Bred. A fourth panelist will also be announced as will the dinner speaker.

For a program preview, roster of session topics and speakers, and to register, please click here.

• $300 if you register by Jan. 11, 2008
• $350 if you register after Jan. 11, 2008

Home Garden Seed Industry Loses Two Friends

Mel Tessene, a long time industry friend and supporter, passed away peacefully at his home Thursday, November 29 in Denver, Colorado after a long illness. As a dedicated horticulturist, Mel's career reflects deeply on his commitment to our industry. He was a past President of AAS, an integral part of Plant Select, and an active spokesman for the horticultural industry. His knowledge and innovations in the field of seed technology are the foundations for many of the developments we continue to benefit from today. Mel's passion for life and our industry were inseparable and he will be dearly missed.

Patricia S. Bodger, the widow of Howard Bodger, and the mother of Jack Bodger, passed away Monday, December 10. She was 85 years old. Howard and Pat were both graduates of Los Angeles High Schools and UCLA. They were married in 1944. During the time that Howard ran the company Pat was an important part of the business, assisting him with year end inventory and other tasks. She was his traveling and entertaining companion at countless conferences, trial grounds and customer visits. Those in the industry who knew her will remember her for her constant cheerfulness, sense of humor, and concern for others. She is survived by her son Jack Bodger, daughter Susan Lonchar, 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

For more information, contact Nona Koivula of All America Selections.

Company and Association News

AOSCA Strategic Plan Initiative

When the AOSCA Board of Directors meets in San Antonio, TX, the last week of February, 2008, it will consider input gathered from member Agencies as it updates the Association's strategic plan. AOSCA Agencies have provided a wealth of input and suggestions for the Board to consider as it charts a course for AOSCA in the coming years. AOSCA will continue to support strong seed certification programs and build upon experiences learned from them as it develops new services for the agricultural industry. If you are interested in providing input for AOSCA's planning process, please contact Chet Boruff.

Indiana Crop Improvement Association, Inc provides verification services for Chicago Climate Exchange

Employees of ICIA have been conducting field inspections to verify that land enrolled in the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) carbon credit trading program meet its requirements. ICIA is providing the services for AOSCA, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies.These field inspections are to verify that the farmer is successfully capturing carbon from the atmosphere by maintaining a no-till field or planting a grassland cover.

"Working with Indiana Crop Improvement Association highlights the increased efficiency our system brings to this project by managing it from a central point of contact from the AOSCA office," said Chet Boruff, CEO of AOSCA. AOSCA delegates responsibilities regionally across the country to capable people with expertise in field inspection such as Indiana Crop Improvement Association." We are proud to be a member of AOSCA and to participate in the CCX project," said Joe Deford, Field Programs Director, Indiana Crop Improvement Association. Click here for more information.

Staff Change at Ahern International Seeds: Ramon Calderon Promoted to Co-Leader of Logistics

San Diego, CA-Ahern International Seeds is pleased to announce the promotion of Ramon Calderon to Co-Leader of Logistics at Ahern International Seeds. Calderon was previously the assistant manager of Ahern's logistics operations in Northwest Mexico. He began working for Ahern International in 1998.

"Ahern is always looking to the future," says Calderon. "We have established a robust communications and logistics network, and we are constantly implementing innovative methods to serve our customers better. Excellence is never an option for Ahern Seeds."

Enroll Now for Breeding with Molecular Markers, February 2008

The UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center will be offering its third Breeding with Molecular Markers course on February 20th-21st, 2008 at the Buehler Alumni Center. This course is designed for professional plant breeders who want to learn or expand their knowledge on when and how to incorporate molecular markers into their breeding programs. It is also appropriate for lab professionals who want to learn how their work may be applied.

The course focuses on current marker technologies, quantitative trait loci, marker-assisted selection, appropriate population structures and sizes and quality control. The second day will host a hands-on workshop on how to analyze marker data with phenotypic data in breeding programs. The course is taught by experienced academic and industry professionals. On-line registration is now available.

For questions, contact Sue DiTomaso or at 530-754-7333.

Reserve Your Room Today at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL for ASTA's 125th Annual Convention

As attendance at this year's 125th Annual Convention is shaping up to be record-breaking, make sure to make your reservations today to stay at the convention hotel, the world renowned Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL. The luxurious 1,406-room Gaylord Palms Resort, Central Florida's newest destination, celebrates the very best of the Sunshine State inside a spectacular 4.5 acre glass-topped atrium. Resort and guest room themes include festive Key West, historic St. Augustine and the mysterious Everglades.

Innovative dining options are offered in several critically acclaimed restaurants, including Old Hickory Steakhouse, Villa de Flora Marketplace and Sunset Sam's Fish Camp. Other amenities include resort-style swimming pools, nightly entertainment and the legendary Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the most prestigious spa and fitness center in Central Florida. You do not want to miss out on all of the excitement that the convention headquarter hotel has to offer. Click here to reserve your room today at the special ASTA group rate.

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events

ASTA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact ASTA at (703) 837-8140.