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November 12 , 2008
ASTA Members Provide Valuable Feedback on Association. A survey of seed industry representatives and past members provided invaluable feedback to ASTA leadership and staff. Initiated by ASTA and conducted by the Marketing Research Department of GROWMARK, Inc., the survey results will enable ASTA to make the changes needed to better serve its membership. With this information, ASTA can continue to bring quality programming and opportunities to its member and strategically address the seed industry's priorities of today and in the future. The ultimate goal is to ensure value from ASTA membership. In July, anonymous responses were collected and analyzed by Jim Charlesworth of GROWMARK, Inc. Charlesworth presented the results to the ASTA Executive Committee in September. He commended the association, "ASTA has taken a proactive approach in measuring the members' satisfaction and importance level on key activities and services. The real value of this information will result from actions striving to improve upon these services and future seed industry issues as expressed by the membership respondents." The survey, which was conducted electronically and sent to a very broad range of seed representatives, is an initial step in assessing how the association is meeting the needs of its members and understanding what is on their minds. Equipped with this information, further analysis and information collection will be undertaken as needed. The ASTA Executive Committee and Board of Directors will use the results of the study to guide further action and prioritization as they review future activities and ASTA's strategic plan. Other ASTA committees, such as the newly formed Communication Steering Committee and the Management Skills Committee, will utilize the information gathered to direct their efforts on new opportunities, resources and initiatives to benefit members. The overall results of the survey were positive. Charlesworth commented, "ASTA received solid overall satisfaction marks by the members participating in the survey. Over 70% of the members are very satisfied or satisfied with ASTA as an organization." An easy measure of how an association is doing is to ask if someone would personally recommend a company to join, and in the case of ASTA, the results were very good. Three out of four respondents said they would likely recommend a company to join ASTA. The survey indicated that seed representatives were most familiar with ASTA's meetings and conferences. ASTA has a mission that is much broader than this service. And although three quarters of the respondents said that they were quite satisfied with ASTA's ability to meet its mission, there were also indications that ASTA needs to communicate more clearly the various activities and efforts it makes on behalf of its member companies and the seed industry at the local, state and international level. From issues facing the seed industry to providing educational opportunities to general association organization and communication, ASTA leadership and staff gained insight into how they may better allocate resources and address issues of most concern to the membership. Serving as a benchmark, the survey will guide future action of ASTA leadership and staff and provide a yardstick with which ongoing evaluation can be measured. For more information on the 2008 Membership Survey, please contact ASTA Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley.
Economic and Political Landscape to Headline Opening General Session at CSS 2008. ASTA's CSS 2008 and Seed Expo (also known as the Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference) kicks off on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 10 with the Opening General Session featuring a strong program of timely and relevant educational topics. The session will begin with a crucial presentation on the economic and political landscape of 2009, featuring experts with direct insight into how the election and economy will affect your business going forward. The session continues with reports on ASTA advocacy from the local to international levels and how your company can take advantage of these efforts to benefit your business. Finally, a presentation rolling out ASTA's new "Beyond the Seed" intellectual property rights program outlines the ways in which the true value of seed can be communicated to your customers in a time when the price of seed often is questioned. Don't miss this important and interactive session to get the best value from your CSS 2008 & Seed Expo experience! New Media Opportunities at CSS 2008 Offered for ASTA Members. New to CSS 2008 & Seed Expo will be a Media Room on Dec. 10-11. The exclusive use space is being made available to media attending the event and will also accommodate press events for ASTA member companies. Press events will be scheduled at the request of ASTA members on a first come, first serve basis. Members can also use the Media Room to distribute press releases or other information that may be of interest. To enhance the media's experience at this important seed industry event, ASTA has equipped the room with free access to wireless Internet, a phone line, work space, informational materials and beverage service. ASTA members interested in holding a press event or in supplying information in the Media Room should contact ASTA Vice President of Communications Gretchen Flanley.
ASTA Seed Expo Reinvented! ASTA's Seed Expo has long been known as an event solely for those in corn, sorghum and soybean commodities. Being held Dec. 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Seed Expo 2008 has been re-formatted to serve audiences across all seed types. The grand opening, "Exhibitor Marketplace," on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. is complimentary for all, and exhibitors will offer special giveaways, food and beverage to attendees. The show continues Dec. 10-11, and seed industry professionals will have access to a wide range of exhibitors offering the latest in new equipment, products and services. Included with access to the Seed Expo is the new Production and Industry Workshop, two 90 minute, afternoon sessions on Dec. 9 and 10. The workshop provides timely advice to all seed industry professionals on getting a business through these trying economic times, seed testing, weather insurance, and more. ASTA members and friends in the vegetable, flower, lawn and farm seed communities as well as representatives from regional and state associations are encouraged to attend Seed Expo 2008. This is possibly the first time for some to attend, taking advantage of ASTA's new offer of complimentary access to newcomers and those in production and operational roles. Exhibitors, likewise, have been granted this year use of unlimited complimentary customer day passes in order to help facilitate broadened access to the Expo. If you would like to attend Seed Expo 2008 complimentary, contact any exhibitor company to request a Complimentary Day Pass. Deadlines Fast Approaching for CSS 2008 & Seed Expo. The regular registration deadline for ASTA's CSS 2008 and Seed Expo (also known as the Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference) is Saturday, Nov. 15, after which registration prices increase by $50 for members, $75 for non-members and $25 for spouses. The conference is the largest seed industry convention in the country, attracting nearly 2,500 attendees and 110 exhibitors each year. Registration options this year offer new discounted $50 day passes to the Seed Expo and complimentary access for attendees who are in production, plant operations or similar roles or to those who have not attended the show in the past five years. Complimentary Day Passes are also available to those who are invited by a Seed Expo exhibitor company. Contact any exhibitor company to request a Complimentary Day Pass to the trade show and Production and Industry Workshop. Offering a sneak preview of Seed Expo 2008 is the "Exhibitor Marketplace" event on Tuesday, Dec. 9, which opens the trade show and is once again free. The Seed Expo offers networking for all segments of the seed industry. Visit the CSS 2008 Web site to learn additional information about this annual December conference and the trade show. Large Numbers Turn Out for ASTA Farm & Lawn Seed Conference and WSA Annual Meeting. The joint event of the ASTA Farm & Lawn Seed Conference and the Western Seed Association's Annual Meeting was held Nov. 1-4 in Kansas City. With over 600 in attendance, ASTA hosted several venues within the context of the joint event which included the Invasive Species Working Group, the Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee, meetings of the Farm and Lawn Seed Divisions and a Critical Issues Session. ASTA Chairman Kelly Keithly of Keithly-William Seeds, remarked, "ASTA's recent Farm & Lawn Seed Conference provided a rare opportunity to bring together the leaders of the farm, lawn and conservation seed industries to discuss issues critical to these important sectors of agriculture. It was also impressive to offer such a wide variety of exceptional speakers to cover topics ranging from credit availability to consumer needs to biomass." The sessions included updates on state and legislative issues, the National Invasive Species Advisory Council, presentations on federal governmental programs and policies, and ASTA activities addressing matters impacting the farm and lawn seed industries. For more information on individual sessions, please click here. The Lawn Seed Division also passed a resolution to approve the new Retailers Guide for Proper Handling and Storage of Lawn Seed Products. This valuable resource was developed by the ASTA Lawn Seed Division, in cooperation with the Association of American Seed Control Officials (AASCO), to provide important information to retailers on the proper handling and storage of grass seed products. The resolution will be considered by the ASTA Board of Directors at their next meeting on Feb. 11, 2009. Several ASTA staff members attended the meeting: President and CEO Andy LaVigne, Vice President of Government of Affairs Leslie Cahill, Director of Member Services Jason Laney, and Director of State Affairs Pat Miller. Within the meeting of the WSA, Steve Tubbs of Turf Merchants, Inc. was elected president of WSA for the ensuing year. Bob O'Donnell of Winfield Solutions was elected first vice president, and Terry Peters of Seeds Inc. was elected as second vice president. Jesse Smart was elected as treasurer and serves as WSA executive director.
Management Academy Offered for Seed Industry Decision Makers. Seed industry managers can expand their knowledge of management tools and concepts March 3-6, 2009, at the 22nd American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Management Academy, held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
The ASTA Management Academy is a partnership between ASTA and the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business. Approximately 750 managers, representing more than 200 seed firms worldwide, have graduated from the program. Participating organizations have represented all segments of the seed business. For more information on the academy or to register, visit www.agecon.purdue.edu/cab or call Betty Jones-Bliss at 217.345.3305. ASTA Co-sponsors Food Safety Symposium. On Oct. 20-21. a national symposium, "Human Pathogens on Plants: Research and Policy to Protect Vegetable Crops from Human Pathogens" was held on the campus of Colorado State University (CSU). This symposium, which was co-sponsored by the CSU Infectious Disease Supercluster, the American Phytopathological Society (APS), the Center for Produce Safety and ASTA, brought together leading experts who presented their latest findings and viewpoints on the ecology of human pathogens in relation to crop production and marketing. Break-out sessions were organized around special topic areas including biology research, industry issues and optimizing food safety and plant pathogen research. The symposium fulfilled one of the goals of APS in food safety by bringing those who work in the food industry together with plant pathologists to identify research priorities and gaps in knowledge and discuss forming collaborative relationships to achieve food safety goals. Associate Director of Technical Services and Programs Betsy Peterson with the California Seed Association attended on behalf of ASTA. "This symposium did a good job of bringing together a diverse group of experts from industry and the research community. The symposium coordinators also recognized ASTA and the other sponsors multiple times during the meeting, which was good exposure for ASTA and the seed industry," noted Peterson.
Meet Your ASTA Staff Hiranthie Stanford Hiranthie Stanford joined ASTA as the meetings and membership coordinator in June and hit the ground running at the ASTA 125th Annual Convention. Ms. Stanford comes to ASTA from the Epilepsy Foundation where she served as a program specialist and provided various services in support of their programs and outreach activities. She also has extensive experience in the financial sector in debt recovery, financial analysis and accounts management. A graduate of Bowie State University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is active in Mocha Moms and is a member of a monthly book club. A native of Washington, DC, Hiranthie resides in Maryland with her precious three year old daughter, Jasmine, and their dog, Simba. Hiranthie can be reached through ASTA headquarters or by email at hstanford@amseed.org. 2008 Election - What Does it Mean for Seed? "Change" has been used throughout this political season, and it is apparent that in the 111th Congress, significant adjustments and alternate courses will be pursued and expected. Although a number of races have yet to be called, a significant shift has already occurred. This shift in all three branches of government will provide Democrats the opportunity to accomplish legislatively priorities of the party. Considerable support for increased oversight and regulatory activity could be seen in a number of areas affecting seed and agriculture. These would include: trade, food and drug safety, food and other imports, commodity futures trading, regulations and consolidation and credit. A "lame duck" session is expected Nov. 17. At that time, both parties will elect their leaders where new faces will likely emerge. In addition, key committees affecting ASTA priorities will see changes. In the Executive Branch, new secretaries, directors and leaders will be named for all federal government agencies. "Change" is definitely in the future of Washington, and ASTA is well positioned to familiarize new policy makers and Congressional members on seed industry issues and priorities, focusing on intellectual property rights, patent reform, immigration, farm bill implementation, energy, trade and food safety. Outreach and education will need to extend beyond traditional seed industry partners in the government agencies so that their representatives better understand how the seed industry may be impacted through their various activities. Grassroots activities will be essential with much more effort at the district level and in Washington. In the current economic climate, new Members will be particularly eager to tout their efforts back home regarding jobs and other services to their constituents. ASTA will emphasize the economic impact of the seed industry on local communities and the overall importance of the seed industry here at home and around the world. Election Brings New Dynamic at the State Level. The nationwide Democratic gains on Election Day filtered down to the state level. The Democratic Party now controls 60 state legislative bodies, gaining three in the election, and holds the majority of both houses in 27 states, gaining a total of four. In addition, 17 states are now led by a combination of Democratic executive and legislative chambers. This election continues a trend where Democrats have gained state legislative seats nationwide for the past five years. In New York, candidates and the parties spent over $40 million on Senate races this election, which makes it the most expensive ever. Democrats now control the House, Senate and Governor's office for the first time since the early 1930s. A variety of social policies are expected to be discussed in the statehouse next year. Texas came within 25 votes of losing Republican control of the House, which is being contested in a race for a Dallas-area district. If reversed after the recount, Democrats will have a majority for the first time since 2003. As a result, the Speaker's race has garnered a bevy of candidates to challenge the powerful incumbent. Republicans also made some gains, in particular the state Senates in Tennessee, Montana and Oklahoma. Democrat majorities shrank in the North Carolina Senate and the New Hampshire House. Even though the Democrats have a slight majority in Pennsylvania, the Republican Speaker of the House is expected to retain that seat. With these changes in many states, the spring state legislative sessions are expected to bring a wide variety of new ideas and policies. Republicans drew the district lines last time. If the Democrats are as successful in two years in the state elections as they were this year, they will be in a prime position for redistricting in 2011. ASTA Active at International Seed Federation (ISF) Meetings. Several ASTA members participated in the fall meetings of ISF held Nov. 3-8 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The week convened various ISF committees and the Board of Directors in order to prepare for the ISF Congress. Early in the week, the Sustainable Agriculture Committee and the Intellectual Property Committee met and then later reported to the Breeders Committee. The Board of Vegetable and Ornamentals, the Board of Forage and Turf and the Board of Field Crops also met. This was the inaugural meeting of the Board of Field Crops. The week was rounded out with a session of the Executive Committee and a Board of Directors meeting. All the meetings were well attended, and ASTA had good representation which is vital to providing input from the perspective of the U.S. seed industry on discussions such as stewardship, farmers' rights, essentially derived varieties, phytosanitary issues, breeding techniques and activities under various international bodies. The meetings were an opportunity for the boards and committees to prepare recommendations to the Board of Directors to be considered by the General Assembly for final approval. Serving in various capacities in ISF for ASTA, Tim Johnson of Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc. of SGI Field Crops Division felt the meetings were successful on many fronts and that ASTA plays a vital role. "ISF provides an excellent forum for dialogue and discussion on these important issues," remarked Johnson. "It was great to see that ASTA was not only well represented, but also well respected by our peers internationally for providing leadership and counsel on many issues facing the international seed trade." The 2009 ISF World Seed Congress will take place May 25-27 in Antalya, Turkey, and the registration and Web site will be available after the New Year. Europe Looks at New Biotech Crops. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre is hosting a conference titled, "Global Commercial Pipeline of New GM Crops" in Seville Spain, Nov. 12-13. Regulatory authorities from a number of countries such as Argentina, Canada, China, South Africa and the United States, will present on expected products that will come through their biotech regulatory pipeline over the next few years. Industry will also provide a briefing on their commercialization pipeline. The participants will discuss the asynchronous approval of the various pipelines, how it will affect trade with the European Union and the potential costs to the European consumer. Oct. 31. Members of the U.S. agriculture industry met with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative staff to discuss the state of the World Trade Organization (WTO) case against the European Union regarding their process of approving genetically modified traits in agricultural products. The U.S. has been meeting regularly over the last two months to encourage the European Commission (EC) to reach a conclusion in the case. The U.S. government is also reviewing their options in the case should the EC fail to address the ruling of the WTO Court. Nov. 5 The ASTA Mexico and Brazil Country Working Groups held their respective conference calls to discuss the outcomes of recent ASTA initiatives in each country focused on phytosanitary constraints to trade, as well as to plan market strategies and activities for the upcoming program year. Country Working Group Calls for Argentina, China and India will be held later in the month. Members of the Country Working Groups are vital to the success of ASTA's international activities. If you or a representative from your company would like to participate in any of the five working groups, please contact Lisa Nichols. Nov. 9-13. ASTA members and staff are attending the Asia Pacific Seed Association Congress this week in Hyderabad, India. ASTA has a booth at the Congress Exhibition which has provided an excellent opportunity to speak with many of the Congress attendees about ASTA's Guide to Seed Quality Management Practices, intellectual property rights and upcoming ASTA events. At the congress' conclusion, ASTA staff will meet with regional stakeholder groups in New Delhi, as well as the U.S. Embassy to discuss ASTA's international efforts in India. Former ASTA Chairman Receives Highest 4-H Honor.
On Oct. 10, the National 4-H Council honored former ASTA Chairman Jim Tobin, Leader of Industry Affairs, Commercial Acceptance Group of the Monsanto Company, with the Gary L. Davis Award for his lifetime of exceptional service to 4-H at the local, state, national, and international level. Jim served as chairman of ASTA from 2005-2006. Tobin capped his career as a 4-H member in 1978 as a member of the International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) program in Ukraine and Belorussia. While there, he used the photography skills he learned in 4-H to shoot a cover for National Geographic. Since then, Tobin has served on the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees, the Missouri 4-H Foundation Board and as a County Extension Director for the Iowa State University Extension Service. "Jim Tobin's outstanding contributions have strengthened the 4-H movement, and he continues to serve as an example of excellence to all 4-H'ers," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., president and CEO, National 4-H Council. "We are proud to recognize his exemplary service." The Gary L. Davis Award honors volunteers who consistently demonstrate strong leadership skills while positively impacting 4-H at the national and state levels. Recipients receive a grant for the community of their choice to build 4-H after school programs within their state. HGSA First Annual Summer Conference a Success.
The Home Garden Seed Association (HGSA) held their first Annual Summer Conference on Sept. 10-11, in Chico, Calif. The conference was a success with an opportunity to see California agriculture first hand as well as discuss topics of interest to home garden seed companies. The two day conference included a variety of tours to take in the diverse agriculture of California. Participants visited Seeds by Design to see the operations and visit 100 entries of the HGSA trials, Emerald Farms' almond harvesting and vine crops processing and Chico Nut processing facility in Williams. Three roundtable discussions were conducted to engage participants and look at opportunities and challenges facing this segment of the seed industry. Master Gardeners of the Colusa Gardening Club met with participants for the first roundtable to convey their likes and dislikes about the seed packet industry and what future opportunities they foresee. The second roundtable was a discussion on how the home garden seed industry takes advantage of and benefits by the incredible new upsurge in gardening and growing vegetables. The conference was concluded with a roundtable and tour related to biotechnology and home garden seed. Participants toured the Biotech Institute and Transformation Center at the University of California - Davis and discussed the public's perception about genetically engineered seeds and their home garden. The conference was also an opportunity for networking among this part of the seed industry through the many social events and open discussion forums. Farm Journal and Farm Foundation Announce First Food and Agriculture Policy Summit. On Nov. 10, Farm Journal and Farm Foundation announced their collaboration to present the first Food and Agriculture Policy Summit slated for Dec. 2-4 in Washington, DC. At a time of historic challenges and opportunities in agriculture and the food system, the Summit will feature three days of programs examining critical domestic and global issues facing agriculture and the food system. This conference will focus on what a new Congress and the new Obama Administration will mean for agriculture. The Summit will include a panel of former Secretaries of Agriculture invited to participate in this 90-minute discussion of challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today. On Dec. 4, Farm Foundation will examine long-term challenges and opportunities in the conference, "Agriculture's Strategic Role: Feeding and Fueling a Growing World." This program will begin with the release of a new Farm Foundation report detailing the policy challenges and options the United States and the world will face to feed a growing world over the next 30 years. All Summit events will be at the Westin Washington. To register, visit www.FarmJournalForum.com or https://secure.lenos.com/lenos/omegameetings/cemfffj1208/.
USDA
USDA/AMS USDA/ARS
USDA/APHIS USDA/ERS
USDA/RMA
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.
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Grain Handler's Database • Seed Quality Management • CSS 2008 & Seed Expo • 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference • 125th Annual Convention |