Seed E-News

January 14, 2005

Vegetable & Flower Conference
On-line registration closed on January 12, 2005 you can still register on-site for ASTA's Vegetable & Flower Conference in San Francisco January 22-25, 2005. On-site registration fees for members will be $275, for non-members $550 and $75 for spouses.

The conference's General Session on Monday, January 24 will be addressed by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, A.G. Kawamura who was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in November 2003. For a profile of Secretary Kawamura, please follow this link Kawamura.

Places are still available for the golf tournament to be held on Saturday, January 22. The registration fee for the golf tournament is $135.00 per player, and includes green fees, a boxed lunch, tournament scoring, golf cart labels, and range balls. The first tee-off time is at 9:06 a.m. with additional tee-offs every 8 to 10 minutes. The course is conveniently located only four miles from the hotel, and can be accessed by taxi in approximately 10 minutes. For more information about Presidio Golf Course, follow the link.

Click here if you have any questions about the conference. Alternatively, you can contact Annie Stull or Jennifer Lord on (703) 837-8140.

ASTA and Purdue Offer Two Different Management Development Programs
During February 2005, Purdue University and the ASTA Management Skills Committee will be offering two programs. On February 16-18, the ASTA Advanced Management Forum provides an opportunity for participants to dig deeper into topics introduced in the ASTA Management Academy. It offers upper- and mid-level managers a forum for carefully examining key management issues and discussing the implications for developing successful business strategies. New tools for developing longer-term strategies at the firm level as well as the operational level will be just one area of focus.

On February 28 – March 4, the ASTA Management Academy (now in its 18th year) focuses on important concepts in four key areas of management: marketing, finance, human resource management, and strategy. Throughout the week, current topics of interest to the seed industry are addressed in different classroom formats. Discussions in class, small groups and social events with colleagues from across the continent and from different segments of the industry continue to be of great benefit.

Registrations are still being accepted for both programs. If you are interested or need more information, please contact Betty Sue Jones Associate Director, Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University on (765) 494-4328 or by e-mail at bettyso@purdue.edu.

3rd Annual USDA/ASTA Conservation Workshop The 3rd Annual USDA/ASTA Conservation Workshop will be held in Washington DC on March 17, 2005 (all day) and March 18, 2005 (half day). Details of the venue will be notified when available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Leslie Cahill on (703) 837-8140 or at lcahill@amseed.org.

Future Seed Executives (FuSE)
Future Seed Executives (FuSE), an official sub-committee of ASTAâs Management Skills Committee, is planning an industry launch event to be held at the ASTA Vegetable and Flower Conference in San Francisco, CA on Monday, January 24, from 5-6 p.m. To participate in the FuSE launch events, individuals must be registered for the ASTA Conference. Whether you are a more senior seed industry executive or a future seed executive, we welcome you to attend, network with future executives and learn how FuSE will prepare the seed industryâs next generation. FuSE will focus on educating and supporting future seed industry executives, namely those with fewer than seven years of seed industry experience. If you would like more information on getting involved with FuSE, please contact one of the following FuSE representatives.

Visit Member Services for more information on becoming a member of ASTA. To register for the Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference, complete the online form or call (703) 837-8140.

Plant Variety Protection Office, Supplemental Fees
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed supplemental fees for the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Office covering a variety of administrative services that are not currently charged by the program. These include administrative service requests for: replenishment of seed low in germination or seed number; submission of new application data after notice of allowance, but prior to certificate issuance; recording any revision, withdrawal, or revocation of an assignment; and protest to the issuance of a certificate. The allowance and issuance fee will be increased also to recover the costs of enhancing the PVP program's electronic archiving capabilities. Also, technical amendments are proposed which would revise or remove obsolete language. The proposal was published in the Federal Register dated January 11, 2005. More information can found here in HTML format or here in PDF format.

Comments must be received on or before February 10, 2005. Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning this proposed rule. Comments should be sent in triplicate to:

Dr. Paul M. Zankowski
Commissioner
PVP Office
Room 401
NAL Building
10301 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Tel: (301) 504-5518
Fax: (301) 504-5291

and should refer to the docket title and number located in the heading of the document. Comments received will be available for public inspection at the same location, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For further information, contact Janice M. Strachan of AMS Science and Technology at the above address, telephone and fax numbers.

Agriculture Secretary Names Members to National Organic Standards Board
On January 14, 2005 in Washington, DC, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the appointment of five new members to the National Organic Standards Board. The appointees will serve terms beginning Jan. 24, 2005, and ending Jan. 24, 2010. They are:

Mr. Gerald A. Davis, organic producer, Arvin, CA;
Mr. Rigoberto I. Delgado, organic producer, Houston, TX;
Ms. Bea E. James, retailer, Golden Valley, MN;
Mr. Hubert J. Karreman, environmentalist, Quarryville, PA;
and Ms. Julie S. Weisman, organic handler, Tenafly, NJ.

The National Organic Standards Board includes four organic producers, two handlers, one retailer, three environmentalists, three consumers, one scientist and one certifying agent. The National Organic Standards Board was established by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The board is authorized to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the secretary on any other aspect of the implementation of the act. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the activities of the board.

American Soybean Association Offers 2005 Winter Soybean Rust Seminars
In January and February 2005, the American Soybean Association is conducting a series of five soybean rust education meetings commencing on January 10, in Dubuque, IA. The remaining three seminars will be held on the following dates:

January 28, 2005 – Decatur, IL (Holiday Inn)
January 31, 2005 – Savannah, GA (Marriott Savannah Riverfront)
February 1, 2005 – Columbia, MO (Ramada Inn)

The seminars will include presentations on soybean rust basics, detection techniques, protecting crops from soybean rust and fundamentals of fungicide application. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and various agribusinesses, along with state rust specialists, will present information to growers. Registration for the meetings, which are free to current ASA members, is required. A registration fee of $50.00 will be charged to non-members. Go to www.Soygrowers.com/rust to register to attend one of the meetings. You may also contact ASA toll-free at (800) 688-7692 for additional information.

Organic Trade Association Welcomes Audit of National Organic Program's Accreditation Program
On January 14, 2005, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for voluntarily undergoing an audit of its accreditation process for certifying agencies under its National Organic Program (NOP) and for publicly posting the results and its response on the www.ams.usda.gov/nop web site. To read more, follow this link OTA.

UC Davis Announces Two New Biotechnology Publications
The University of California Davis Seed Biotechnology Center announces the publication of two new informational resources, Crop Biotechnology: Feeds for Livestock and Roundup Ready Alfalfa: An Emerging Technology. Both are available free at no cost at http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/Publications/ABC_Series.htm.To request more information call (530)754-7333 or visit the web site at: sbc.ucdavis.edu.

U.S. Grains Council Global Update
At the request of the Corn & Sorghum Division, ASTA E-News includes a link to the U.S. Grains Council's weekly Global Updates. Click on the link to read the Global Update for January 14, 2005.

Industry and People

If you have any personnel changes, or other developments in your company, that you would like included in E-News, please send details to ppatterson@amseed.org.

ASTA Meetings & Opportunities

January 22-25, 2005
ASTA 44th Vegetable & Flower Conference
Grand Hyatt San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

February 16-18, 2005
ASTA Advanced Management Forum
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

February 28-March 3, 2005
18th ASTA Management Academy
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

March 17-18, 2005
3rd Annual USDA/ASTA Conservation Workshop
Washington DC (venue to be advised)

June 19-22, 2005
122nd ASTA Annual Convention
Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Tower
Seattle, WA

November 5-8, 2005
ASTA 51st Farm & Lawn Seed Conference
Westin Crown Center
Kansas City, MO

December 7-9. 2005
ASTA 60th Corn & Sorghum and
35th Soybean Conferences and
Seed Expo 2005
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, IL

July 8-12, 2006
Joint ASTA-CSTA Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL

Upcoming Events

January 2005
Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
The Minnesota Crop Improvement Association will be holding its annual meeting on January 20-21, 2005, in St. Cloud, MN. If you require more information, you should contact:

Alana Rogers
Project Support Specialist
Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
1900 Hendon Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Tel: 1-800-510-MCIA

February 2005
Indiana Crop Improvement Association Annual Conference
The Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) will be holding its 2005 Annual Conference on February 3-4, 2005 at the Sheraton North Hotel, Keystone at the Crossing, Indianapolis, IN. Prior that on February 2, ICIA is also holding the Illinois/Indiana Seed Conditioning Workshop at the same location. For more information, check out the web site at www.indianacrop.org or contact ICIA at

Larry Svajgr, Executive Director
Indiana Crop Improvement Association, Inc.
7700 Stockwell Road
Lafayette, IN 47909
Tel: 765-523-2535
Fax: 765-523-2536
Email: svajgr@indianacrop.org

University of California Davis Course in Seed Biology, Production and Quality
On February 2-3, 2005, the UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Center and UC Davis Extension are offering a two-day short course for professionals in the seed industry. With the importance of seed quality becoming increasingly vital to agricultural needs, it is critical that producers have an understanding of the biological factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of seed viability and vigor. Seed Biology, Production and Quality presents the scientific background for production, handling, storage and quality control procedures in the seed industry. It provides an opportunity for professionals in the seed industry, crop consultants and growers, to expand and update their knowledge about seed biology, production and quality. Topics include:

• Pollination, fertilization and embryogenesis
• Physiology of seed development
• Seed health and phytosanitation
• Management of seed crop production
• Harvesting and conditioning to maintain and enhance seed quality
• Maintenance of genetic purity and identity
• Germination and dormancy
• Seed technology and enhancement
• Future directions in seed biology and technology

To request more information about this course or to enroll, call toll free (800) 752-0881 or visit the web site at SBC Seed Course.

March 2005
Symposium on “Plant Breeding and the Public Sector”
Michigan State University will be conducting a symposium March 9-11, 2005 to address the issue of who will train plant breeders in the U.S. and around the world. The keynote speakers will be:

• Dr. P. Stephen Baenziger (Eugene W. Price Distinguished Professor, University of Nebraska) – Plant Breeding Training in North America
• Dr. Fred Bliss (Senior Director, R & D Special Projects, Seminis Seeds and former Will W. Lester Endowed Chair at The University of California) – Plant Breeding in the Private Sector
• Gurdev Khush (Former Head of Plant Breeding at IRRI and World Food Prize 1996) – Plant Breeding Training in the International Sector

During the symposium, the participants will discuss:

• What kind of training do plant breeders need?
• What is the most effective balance between classical and molecular training?
• Should the training differ between domestic and international students?
• How will we provide improved varieties of subsistence crops?
• How can the private and public sector most effectively partner to train new generations of plant breeders

The number of participants will be limited to about 100 people to facilitate discussion. You can find more information and a registration form at http://www.hrt.msu.edu/PBSymp/.

2005 Annual Congress of the African Seed Trade Association
The 2005 Annual Congress of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) will take place during March 15-18, 2005 in Yaounde, Cameroon. Last year over 200 delegates from 41 countries participated in the meetings and events of this growing and effective Association representing the interests of the African seed industry.

The 2005 AFSTA Congress will be preceded by a full-day workshop on UPOV and intellectual property rights. The workshop is designed to provide African seed company representatives and government policy makers the opportunity to increase their understanding on subjects such as the protection afforded plant varieties under the 1991 UPOV Convention and how the UPOV Convention is not in conflict with provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The 2005 Congress program will also provide the opportunity for attendees to learn more about critical issues relative to African private seed sector development and trade. Technical sessions are organized to present and discuss important topics such as vegetable seed trade in Africa, IPR, FAO and material transfer agreements, industry accreditation under international regulatory schemes, biosafety regulations and stewardship, coexistence, arbitration and many more.

Trade between companies is also expected to be very active as every year the AFSTA Congress draws increasing numbers of company representatives from Africa and around the globe. There is no other event that can cost-effectively provide a venue for company representatives to meet with their African counterparts.

Registration for the 2005 Congress in Cameroon has commenced. Registration materials, the Congress program, as well as information on pre- and post Congress tours can be accessed through the AFSTA website at www.afsta.org.

April 2005
ISTA Ordinary Meeting 2005
At the invitation of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, ISTA will be holding its Ordinary Meeting 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand April 25-28, 2005. To register, follow this link ISTA Online. The meeting is aimed at discussing and deciding on proposals for changes to the ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing and business items of the Association, with the international participation of ISTA delegates and representatives from both the seed industry and governments, including experts in seed technology, scientific research and laboratory accreditation.

May 2005
ISF Congress 2005
The ISF Congress 2005 will be held in Santiago, Chile, May 30-June 1, 2005. The ISF Congress 2005 web site, which is under construction, can be found Here.