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January 5, 2007
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 • ASTA Guide to State Seed Regulations
Industry Mourns Passing of Gary Arthur The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) was saddened to learn of the passing of seedsman Gary Arthur on December 26. Gary had been courageously battling multiple myeloma. His contributions to the seed industry were many and included ASTA and the Indiana Seed Trade and Indiana Crop Improvement Associations. Gary’s leadership in ASTA was well known and respected. He held a number of leadership positions and worked tirelessly in various committees and divisions within the Association, including: Corn and Sorghum Division; Intellectual Property Rights Committee; Biotechnology; International; Membership; Board of Directors; and Executive Committee. He was elected as Regional Vice President and Second and First Vice Chairman. Due to his illness, however, Gary was unable to assume his duties as Incoming Chairman. In 2003 Gary was named the Association’s Honorary Member, the highest award given to seedsmen by former ASTA Chairman Sonny Beck. Gary will be sorely missed; he is survived by his wife, Kathy, and two grown children. > Read the ASTA release and memorial information.
ASTA Creates First Guide to Seed Regulations Today, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) posted the first comprehensive “Guide to State Seed Regulations.” The electronic ASTA Guide to State Seed Regulations is available online and provides direct links to key seed trade resources in all 50 U.S states. “We believe this new tool will prove a valuable resource, not only to our membership, but to state officials who need easy access to a complete collection of their state’s seed rules,” said Andy LaVigne, ASTA CEO and president. “This is the first time the information has been compiled in one location to provide ‘one-stop shopping’ for individuals interested in the seed industry. It is particularly timely as many states begin their legislative sessions and may have seed related issues on their agendas. We believe the Guide will also be useful in promoting the development and growth of state seed markets.” • In addition to seed laws, electronic links to the following the following information are included for each state: Any questions or suggestions to the Guide should be directed to Ria Misra, the site's developer. ASTA Expands Legislative and Regulatory Staff Pat T. Miller has been named Director of State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), effective January 8. Miller will coordinate with ASTA staff to provide seed industry input to legislative, regulatory and grassroots activities at the local and state levels with state and regional seed associations, seed companies and grower associations. He will be based in Austin, Texas, and report to ASTA Vice President, Government Affairs, Leslie Cahill. Miller, a native of Texas, is currently Executive Director of the Southwestern Fertilizer Conference and previously served as president of the Texas Ag Industries Association for 18 years. In addition, he has been the Executive Director of the Texas Certified Crop Advisers, and the Texas Plant Protection Association, as well as other ag-related membership groups. He is a graduate of North Texas State University in Denton. Date Change for ASTA-USDA Conservation Workshop
USDA has advised ASTA that due to scheduling issues, dates for the fifth annual seed conservation workshop have been changed to March 15-16 rather than the earlier start of March 14. “Partnerships for Native Plant Materials Development,” Local Ecotypes, is the theme for the workshop jointly sponsored by ASTA and the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service. The 1-1/2 day conference will be held in Washington, D.C. and is designed to improve partnerships among government agencies, non-profit groups, and the commercial sector for the improvement of native plant development for conservation, reclamation, and restoration activities. Workshop participants will review current accomplishments and what needs to be done to improve and increase the use of native plants. For more information and to provide input for the agenda, contact Leslie Cahill. Update for ASTA Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference The headquarters hotel for ASTA’s 46th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz., is now sold out for the convention dates. Names are being placed on a waiting list in case more rooms open up for the sold-out night of February 3. If you have not already booked your hotel room for the conference and need to find accommodations, nearby hotel options are: Country Inn & Suites by Carlson , (520) 575- 9255 Early conference registration rates are available until January 12. Registration schedules, conference description, and a registration form can be found online. 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. 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 more than 20 exhibitors. Registration Opens for ISF World Seed Congress
This week, registration opened for the International Seed Federation (ISF) World Seed Congress, to be held May 21-23 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Early bird registration rates end January 31. The Congress has been the key annual event in the world seed calendar since 1924. It provides its international membership with the opportunity to meet annually to share industry knowledge, consider research and technology developments, negotiate trade agreements and to develop new and existing industry networks. Individuals who wish to attend the conference must be a member of a national seed organization. Plant Breeding Workshop Set for February 8-9 “Plant Breeding: A vital capacity for U.S. National Goals,” is the theme of the 2007 Plant Breeding Workshop sponsored by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA; and the Departments of Crop Science and Horticultural Sciences, North Carolina State University February 8- 9 in Raleigh, N.C. APHIS to Provide Onsite ePermitting at ASTA Tucson Conference Plant breeders attending the 46th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference in Tucson will be able to learn more about ePermits, a new APHIS initiative that supports electronic applications, filing, processing and tracking of all APHIS permits. Agency representatives will staff the APHIS PPQ Permit Services Booth 613, and provide assistance in the process and answer questions. To file an ePermit, individuals must first obtain a USDA eAuthentication level 2 account. APHIS encourages interested parties to register in advance in order to expedite the process to create their account. Additional information about ePermits, including the release schedule, registration information, and login capabilities is available here. Company News and People on the Move STA Laboratories has recently hired Anita Castro-Sparks to oversee Bacterial Fruit Blotch testing at its Gilroy, Calif. facility. Anita completed her Masters Degree in December at the University of Georgia working with Dr. Ron Walcott. STA offers a wide range of seed quality testing services.
Upcoming Industry Events Minnesota Crop Improvement Association Annual Meeting American Farm Bureau Annual Convention Louisiana Seedsmen Association Winter Meeting Pacific Seed Association & Field Seed Institute
Click here for a schedule of additional industry events
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Grain Handler's Database • Seed Quality Management • CSS 2008 & Seed Expo • 48th Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference • 125th Annual Convention |