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August 26, 2010
ASTA seeks sponsorships for its 56th Farm and Lawn Seed Conference The American Seed Trade Association's annual Farm & Lawn Seed Conference, held jointly with the Western Seed Association's Annual Convention, will bring about 600 seed industry representatives from the farm and lawn seed sectors to Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 6-9. For the second year, ASTA and WSA have sponsorship opportunities available. Companies can choose to sponsor badge lanyards, hotel key cards, two refreshment breaks or make a general donation. All sponsors will be listed in ASTA's program for the educational sessions. Sponsorship of the badge lanyards and hotel key cards costs $5,000 each. Lanyards with the sponsor's logo in one color, on one side will be provided to all convention registrants upon arrival. All convention attendees in the WSA room block will receive a hotel key card with artwork provided by a sponsor. In addition, there will be an early morning and a mid morning coffee break on Monday. Companies have the opportunity to sponsor both refreshment breaks for $2,500, or one refreshment break for $1,000. Companies that don't want to sponsor the above options, but still wish to support activities of the farm and lawn seed divisions can make a general donation of $250 or more. "I realize the convention is almost entirely structured around business appointments," said Pat Miller, ASTA director of state affairs and staff liaison for the farm and lawn seed divisions. "However, we're really excited about the programming that will be available this year. Each session will offer topics of special interest to the industry and will provide some real 'take-home' information for all attendees' respective businesses." Programming will take place Nov. 7-8. Meetings of ASTA's Farm Seed Division, Lawn Seed Division, Invasive Species Working Group and Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee will feature timely speakers in various industry, government and regulatory roles. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or the convention, contact Miller at 512-259-2118, pmiller@amseed.org or Jennifer Crouse at 703-837-8140, jlordcrouse@amseed.org.
Discussion
with Brazil brings clarity
to seed import issues "This meeting was critical to opening up the lines of communications and really beginning to understand how Brazil approaches its phytosanitary risk assessments," said Ric Dunkle, American Seed Trade Association senior director of seed health and trade. "Until now, we didn't understand why they were doing what they were doing. The big difference between the United States and Brazil is that, in general, APHIS views seed as a low risk commodity and Brazil views seed as a high risk commodity. Herein lays the problem." Dunkle gives the example of seed used for research. Seed imported solely for research purposes is treated very differently in the two countries. Brazil has a massive regulatory program for research seed. In the United States, if a pest risk assessment (PRA) has already determined that a given kind of seed poses negligible phytosanitary risk, it is usually enterable with a visual inspection whether its is intended for commercial or research purposes. However, if the risk assessment shows that there is a high risk or it is prohibited, APHIS will have a great deal more oversight of the seed. APHIS has a permit process to allow in prohibited seed under quarantine conditions for research purposes. "This is how Brazil handles all seed-like it's a high risk commodity," Dunkle explained. "ASTA is working with APHIS to try and harmonize the two programs." To help get the process started, APHIS proposed to Brazil to begin by trying to harmonize the regulatory requirements of one seed versus all of them at the same time. Tomato seed was the agreed upon crop and will be the first crop seed to go through this effort as soon as Brazil agrees to begin the process. One of the other issues discussed in the meeting was Brazil's addition of more than 40 new pests associated with eight different kinds of seeds they believe need to be regulated. Because of the large number of seed types and pests involved, it could take APHIS more than a year to conduct the needed PRAs. Brazil agreed to provide APHIS a reasonable amount of time to complete the necessary PRAs. APHIS and ASTA are working together to apply for a Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops grant that will allow APHIS to contract for additional technical expertise from a university to help with these PRAs. Once the grant is approved, these PRAs should be completed within six months. The next step will then be for APHIS to present these findings to Brazil and negotiate a favorable science-based outcome. "We are making progress," Dunkle said. "It's just taking time." ASTA will continue working with APHIS to help harmonize regulatory requirements between Brazil and the United States.
AOSCA elects new leadership and gives recognition at annual meeting The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) met Aug. 8-11 in Niagara Falls, N.Y., for its 92nd annual meeting. The American Seed Trade Association's Pat Miller, director of state affairs, was in attendance. The meeting is an opportunity for leaders of the nation's seed certifying agencies and departments to discuss issues and establish direction relative to certified seed production. During the meeting, Robert Stewart, executive director of the California Crop Improvement Association, was elected president of the Board of Directors and Bob Tarrant, Texas Department of Agriculture seed quality coordinator for seed certification, was elected vice president. Al Simons, University of Arizona associate research scientist and recently retired executive vice president of the Arizona Crop Improvement Association, was honored with the Meritorious Service Award. Simons is also the secretary of the Seed Trade Association of Arizona. AOSCA, first established in 1919 as the International Crop Improvement Association, is dedicated to assisting clients in the production, identification, distribution and promotion of certified classes of seed and other crop propagation materials.
ASTA and industry organizations reach out to ag leaders in New Mexico The American Seed Trade Association recently co-sponsored, along with the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and CropLife America (CLA), a visit with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to discuss agricultural issues in the state. The meeting was attended by industry representatives, select New Mexico production association representatives and key staff members from New Mexico's Department of Agriculture, including Secretary Dr. Miley Gonzalez. The dialog established a cooperative basis for future policy directives, including communicating the importance of agriculture in New Mexico, the value of science to agriculture, and the significant role production agriculture plays in New Mexico's culture and history. Representatives also met with New Mexico House Agriculture & Water Resources Committee Chairman Andy Nunez and committee member Joni Marie Gutierrez. Both meetings allowed the industry in New Mexico to come together to survey the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture and established groundwork for future collaborative efforts.
Louisiana considers coated seed law revision The American Seed Trade Association, along with several member companies, recently submitted testimony letters to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in opposition to proposed amendments that would require packages of coated seed to note the percentage of seed and coating on the front of the bag, as well as on the label. ASTA believes the proposal is unnecessary and flawed in several material respects. It raises several serious practical, commercial and legal concerns. A revision that requires seed packages to include unnecessary, duplicative information would be unduly burdensome on seed companies. Not only would it be burdensome to seed companies, but it could also adversely impact the Louisiana's seed industry and interstate commerce. A final decision will be made at the state's seed commission meeting in October. The final date has not been determined. For more information, contact Pat Miller, ASTA director of state affairs, at 512-259-2118, pmiller@amseed.org.
Miller Hybrids soon to open new headquarters and warehouse Miller Hybrids Inc. is expected to complete construction of its new headquarters, located one mile west of Kalona, Iowa, in October. The new headquarters will include offices, sales meeting space, a research work area, climate controlled storage and a warehouse capable of storing 270 pallets of boxes of corn. Since opening in 2005, Miller Hybrids has experienced double-digit percentage growth in retail sales units. Bob Miller, Miller Hybrids president, attributes this growth to customer satisfaction with their unique corn product line and personal service. Miller Hybrids also runs an independent research effort and is collaborating with a major seed company to include the development of a new inbred line. Miller Genetics, a division of Miller Hybrids, works with other seed companies to identify unique, elite hybrids that add to their product offerings to increase profit opportunities. For more information about Miller Hybrids, visit http://www.millerhybrids.com, call 866-WIN-CORN or write to 1213 Larch Ave., Kalona, IA 52247. Miller can also be reached directly at 319-325-6158.
Correction: Last week, in the "Please Remember" section,
the link to Andy Blodgett's obituary should have taken readers to http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=andrew-blodgett&pid=144688962. 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.
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129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |