 |
 |
|
July 22, 2010
Seed industry's work earns vote of NCWM, benefitting farmers and seed companies The National Conference on Weights and Measures recently (July 14, 2010) passed a vote to standardize testing methods and procedures to verify seed count labeling, which will positively impact farmers and seed companies. The American Seed Trade Association filed a petition to amend Handbook 133 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which includes procedures for testing packages labeled by weight, volume, measure and count. The petition requests that the handbook match the standards of the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) for testing seed counts when voluntarily stated on the label. "The manner in which seed is purchased and sold has significantly changed in recent years and this amendment will help provide regulatory uniformity for seed testing," said Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and chief executive officer. "We appreciate the National Conference on Weights and Measures' recognition of this issue and applaud their decision. "This will benefit all of our members and will have a positive impact on seed companies' and farmers' bottom-lines." The amendment, effective Jan. 1, 2011, is specific to corn, soybean, field bean and wheat seed. It's designed to reduce confusion from a regulatory compliance standpoint and provide uniformity and harmonization of state laws. According to the NIST handbook, seed in the past has not been subject to a specific testing method tailored to seed. The challenge with this is that seed is a living organism that can vary in size and weight from year to year depending on the growing conditions and storage environment. A traditional bag of soybean seed weighs about 60 pounds, said Bob Nielsen, professor of agronomy at Purdue University. He explained that if seed is small one year, a bag could contain about 180,000 seeds per bag and if seed is large, that same bag may only contain 132,000 seeds per bag. This change allows companies to retain their freedom to operate and to comply with regulatory obligations. All of this translates into significant cost savings for seed manufacturers and ultimately consumers by avoiding the purchase of unforeseen capital equipment and costly manufacturing changes. "It's a step in the right direction to coordinate regulatory standards with AOSA, since many companies now label products with both seed count and weight," said Sonny Beck, president of Beck's Superior Hybrids. This doesn't just benefit seed companies; but also farmers. When selling by weight, farmers don't know exactly how many seeds they are getting in each bag. The addition of seed count to the label will assist farmers in making business decisions. Technology and increased planting precision allow farmers to calculate exactly how much seed they'll need. Planters are calibrated each spring to drop a specific number of seeds into the ground on each acre. "Soybean seed size can vary and the standardization coupled with calibration should help farmers with their seeding rate and purchasing plan," Nielsen explained. Leslie Cahill, ASTA vice president of government affairs, said it's a win-win situation for farmers and the seed industry. "ASTA's Seed Industry Relations Committee successfully worked with the regulatory community to advocate for clarity and certainty on behalf of our members," Cahill said. "This also gives farmers more predictability in their first major planting decision each year-the purchase of seed. Many other organizations also supported the amendment, including: American Farm Bureau Federation, Association of Official Seed Analysts, Association of American Seed Control Officials, Iowa State University, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and a few state corn and soybean associations. "The NIST Handbook 133 was last published in 2005," said Don Onwiler, NCWM executive director. "It will be published again in 2011 and enforceable for states choosing to adopt the handbook Jan. 1." The majority of states adopt the model standard set forth by the NCWM, Onwiler said. However, those that do not may have similar language in statute or rule, he noted. "When the handbook is published, it's then up to the individual states to adopt the most recent edition of NIST Handbook 133," Onwiler said. NCWM, founded in 1905, is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing U.S. standards for weights and measures. It's comprised of local and state weights and measures officials, federal agencies, manufacturers, retailers and consumers who develop regulatory standards for weights and measures, including requirements for weighing and measuring devices, packaging and labeling, method of sale of commodities and checking the net contents of packaged goods.
Nunhems will host next FuSE educational unit in August
The American Seed Trade Association's Future Seed Executives (FuSE) will have the opportunity to learn about Nunhems USA and tour its facility Aug. 11-12 in Parma, Idaho. Offering more than 2,500 seed varieties in 28 different crops, Nunhems is a global supplier of seed. Nunhems' 1,500 employees are dedicated to developing innovative genetics and related services and building unique customer relationships. Nunhems first got its start in 1916 in the southern Dutch province of Limburg. In 2002, it became a part of Bayer CropScience. For more on the Nunhems' history, visit http://www.nunhemsusa.com/www/nunhemsinternet.nsf/id/US_EN_7Y3HV4_History. The educational unit, focusing on the vegetable seed industry, will kick-off with a dinner Aug. 11, hosted by Ron Amarel, Nunhems managing director of operations. Participants will reconvene at 8:30 a.m., Aug. 12 at Nunhems. Registration for ASTA members is $100 and $150 for non-members. Registration and payment will be accepted at the door, but for planning purposes is requested by Aug. 9. A registration form is available at http://amseed.org/mtg_fuse_events.asp or by contacting Anna Burks, FuSE committee liaison, at 703-837-8140. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Lindsey du Toit, Washington State University vegetable seed pathologist, will highlight seed pathology issues. "Lindsay will provide attendees with a more in-depth understanding of pathology issues affecting the seed industry and what measures are being taken to address those issues," said Bob Yaklich, FuSE committee chairman. In addition to du Toit, Amarel will give a brief overview and history of Nunhems and their work in the seed industry. A panel of industry leaders will also discuss human resource topics such as recruitment, retention, expectations in the work place and how young professionals and the industry can partner for a better future. The discussion will build upon participants' expectations, questions and goals, as well as their experiences and approach to human resources in today's work environment. The day will wrap up with tours of the new, state-of-the-art Nunhems processing facility. Stacy Woodruff, head of processing Americas, will lead the processing facility tour and Brad Peters, quality assurance manager, will lead the quality assurance tour. "We hope participants take away a better understanding of the vegetable seed industry and key issues that affect the hiring of young professionals into the industry," Yaklich said. "This is a unique experience for young professionals to get an inside look at a growing company devoted to their employees and future seed industry leaders," Burks said. Once registered, participants will receive a more detailed agenda. For questions and additional information, visit http://amseed.org/mtg_fuse_events.asp or contact Burks at 703-837-8140.
ASTA congratulates Leslie Cahill for 20 years of service
The American Seed Trade Association congratulates Leslie Cahill, vice president of government affairs, for 20 years of service with ASTA and the seed industry. When Cahill started at the American Seed Trade Association on July 24, 1990, she didn't expect to spend the next twenty years with the organization. Hired by Dave Lambert as vice president of government affairs, Cahill through the years has helped guide the industry through numerous farm bills, work with legislators and staff on Capital Hill and strategically set seed industry policies at the state and national levels. Cahill has been and remains responsible for serving the needs of membership through planning, organizing and coordinating ASTA's legislative and regulatory activities; advising and consulting on potential positions that might impact the seed industry; monitoring and reporting on federal and state regulatory and legislative items to the membership; and preparing and presenting testimony before congressional committees. She serves as the staff liaison for the Corn and Sorghum Seed Division, as well as the Environmental and Conservation Committee. "Her understanding of the political process has improved the association's grassroots efforts, getting the industry more involved in the legislative and regulatory processes at the national level," said Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and chief executive officer. "Leslie has a keen ability to remain calm under pressure - which works well in the current environment on The Hill." During her time with ASTA, Cahill has worked extensively on revisions to the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) law and on the Recommended Uniform State Seed Law (RUSSL) in partnership with the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies to harmonize state seed laws. More recently, Cahill has traveled to China and Turkey under the ASTA cooperator program with the U.S Department of Agriculture to meet with U.S. and foreign government officials and promote seed trade opportunities. "Despite the job's time commitment and traveling requirements, Leslie has always made family a priority," said Ann Jorss, ASTA vice president of finance and administration. Prior to joining ASTA, Cahill worked for USDA from 1985 - 1989 first as a staff assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment and then as a confidential assistant to the administrator for the Office of International Cooperation and Development and to the Under Secretary for Small Community and Rural Development, respectively. Cahill also spent four years with the U.S. House of Representatives as a special assistant to the Honorable Bill Emerson, 8th District, Missouri. She is a graduate of William Woods College with a Bachelor of Arts. Please join ASTA in congratulating Cahill for her 20 years of service and involvement in the seed industry.
Help ASTA commemorate 50 years of the Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference
The American Seed Trade Association's next Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference, to be held Jan. 22-25, in conjunction with the California Seed Association's 71st Annual Meeting marks its 50-year anniversary. In making preparations for the event, ASTA requests that any special memories, mementoes, pictures or artifacts from the Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference be sent in to help celebrate the conference's milestones, influence on the industry and history. "As with all ASTA initiatives, we want the anniversary celebration to be a member-driven effort," said Jennifer Crouse, ASTA director of meetings. For details and more information, contact Crouse at 703-837-8140 or jcrouse@amseed.org.
Proceedings from ASTA's 127th Annual Convention Did you miss a meeting, miss the convention or just want to refer back to a presentation? American Seed Trade Association members can now access agendas, minutes and presentations from the 127th Annual Convention at http://www.amseed.org/astamember_news_ac10.asp. (This link will only work if you are a member and already signed in.) To access the proceedings, ASTA members should go to the "Members Only" section, click on "What's New" in the left side bar and then look under "Current News." If something is missing, please contact the staff liaison for that committee and request it be added. If you have any questions or trouble accessing the information, please don't hesitate to contact Julie Douglas, ASTA communications director, at 703-837-8140 or jdouglas@amseed.org.
Mapping out pathways to better soybeans By USDA-ARS News Service Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are a step closer to unlocking genetic clues that may lead to packing more protein and oil into soybeans, a move that would boost their value and help U.S. growers compete in international markets. ARS researchers Carroll Vance, Yung-Tsi Bolon and Randy Shoemaker have narrowed down where genes that determine protein and oil content are likely to be found along the soybean genome. Vance and Bolon work in the ARS Plant Science Research Unit in St. Paul, Minn. and Shoemaker works in the ARS Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit in Ames, Iowa. The team also included Bindu Joseph, a post doctoral researcher who worked with Shoemaker and is now at the University of California-Davis. More than half of the estimated $27 billion U.S. soybean crop is exported each year. But there is increasing competition for international markets, and low protein and oil content often deflate prices paid to U.S. growers, particularly in the Midwest. The researchers used two different approaches to compare the genomes of two nearly identical inbred lines of soybeans that varied in seed protein and oil content, examining patterns in how thousands of genes are expressed, and sequencing 3 billion base pairs of soybean RNA. By comparing the results, the researchers drew up a genetic map that identifies key molecular markers along a region of the soybean genome known as Linkage Group I. The widely studied region makes up less than 1 percent of the plant's overall genome, but includes 13 "candidate genes" that are likely to play a role in determining oil and protein levels, and a series of associated molecular markers, according to the scientists. Breeders will be able to use the markers as signposts to enable the development of new soybean lines with higher protein and oil levels. The effort also uncovered evidence showing that protein levels are determined early in the seed's development. The report, published online in the journal BMC Plant Biology, also is accompanied by vast amounts of sequencing data that scientists can access to study genes related to other desirable traits, such as drought tolerance and pest resistance. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security.
Please Remember Ivan Jacobsen Ivan Jacobsen, of Olivia, Minn., died July 14 at Clare Bridge in Eden Prairie. Jacobsen was born March 19, 1924 and entered into the seed business in 1953 after trying his hand at a menswear store. Jacobsen joined Trojan Seed Company as an office manager and later moved into the positions of secretary-treasurer, executive vice president, president and half owner of the company when it was sold in 1969. While in the seed business, Jacobsen was very active in the American Seed Trade Association, where he served on the Export Marketing Committee and was also appointed a director of the U.S. Feed Grains Council by ASTA. He served as chairman of the Corn and Sorghum Seed Division during the 1977-78 Fiscal Year and was a past president of the Minnesota Seed Dealers Association. Full story Rod Nilsestuen Rod Nilsestuen,
Wisconsin Agriculture Sectretary, drowned
Wednesday (July 21) while on a volunteer trip to Michigan. Full story 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.
|
|||||||||||||||
 |
129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |