Seed E-News

January 30, 2004

Vegetable and Flower Conference, Savannah, GA
ASTA’s 43rd Vegetable and Flower Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, January 24-27, 2004. The Vegetable and Flower Division is to be congratulated on a successful conference which attracted close to 480 attendees, up on the 2003 conference. The meetings were well attended and presentations from ASTA members and staff and invited speakers generated much discussion. There were 17 table top exhibits in the Trading Room which, itself, was busy throughout the conference. ASTA staff and Division Officers are collecting feedback so that we can build on this success in San Francisco next year. Mark your calendars for January 22-25, 2005 at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco.

GM Crops Increase Worldwide
On January 13, 2004, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) issued a report announcing that, for the seventh consecutive year, farmers around the world continued to plant biotech crops at a double-digit pace, with the 2003 total up 15% to 167.2 million acres or 67.7 million hectares. The number of countries responsible for 99% of the global GM crop area increased by two with Brazil and South Africa joining the US, Argentina, Canada and China. In the US, GM crop acreage grew 10% as a result of significant gains in GM corn area and continued growth in GM soybeans. A total of 105.7 million acres of soybeans, corn and cotton were grown. For more on this story, follow this link GM Crop Increase. For more on ISAAA, visit their website www.isaaa.org.

US Expects New EU GM Laws to Affect Trade
As the European Union prepares to launch new laws in April to label and track all genetically modified food, U.S. farmers and government officials are warning they may turn out to be stronger trade barriers than the biotech approval ban they are intended to replace. Only nine GM varieties had been cleared for consumption by the EU when it shut down the approval process in 1998 which, according to US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, has cost U.S. exporters "a few hundred million dollars...a year" in corn sales alone. By comparison, according to the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the US has approved more than 50. The EU has promised the US for years it would lift its ban on new biotech crops so long as labeling and record-keeping regulations could be implemented. However, Trade and Biotechnology counselor for the USDA, David Hegwood, has said that it may be impossible to comply with the regulations. To read more, follow this link EU Regs.

EU Commission Approves GM Maize
The European Commission renewed its efforts to end the 6-year-old de facto moratorium on GM foods on January 28 when it recommended to European political leaders that Syngenta Bt11 sweet corn be approved for human consumption. The recommendation is for consumption from the can, not for cultivation. If EU ministers do not act in 90 days, the Commission would be able to approve the application itself. For more on this story from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, follow this link EU GM Approval.

ASTA Establishes Permanent Research Funds for Corn and Soybean
During its June 2003 meeting the ASTA Board of Directors approved the establishment of Corn Permanent Research Fund and the Soybean Permanent Research Fund with the goal of providing funding for research projects, important to the corn and soybean seed industries, at public institutions. The American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) will serve as the financial and legal administrators of both funds. The ASRF Secretary/Treasurer will send out annually a notice of solicitation for dues, and will deposit these funds in an appropriate interest bearing account. Membership solicitation materials for both funds have been distributed to ASTA member corn and soybean companies. If you are interested in contributing to one or both of the funds but not have received the solicitation materials, including fund operational procedures and dues schedule, please contact Mark Condon at the ASTA Office. As a reminder, the deadline for receipt of annual payments for each fund at the ASRF headquarters is February 1, 2004. Checks should be made out to the American Seed Research Foundation and mailed to American Seed Research Foundation, c/o Ann Jorss, ASRF Secretary/Treasurer, 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 650, Alexandria, VA 22314.

UC Davis Announces Course in Breeding with Molecular Markers
The University of California Davis Seed Biotechnology Center and UC Davis Extension are offering a two-day short course on February 10 and 11, 2004 for professionals in the seed industry. Breeding with Molecular Markers will focus on strategies for using molecular tools in different breeding schemes and crops. Participants will learn what technologies are currently available for different crops. Leading industry and university experts will guide participants on how, when and what types of molecular markers should be used in breeding programs, including marker-assisted selection, accelerated backcrossing, and quantitative trait loci. This course is also an opportunity for breeders who are already using these tools to expand their knowledge of new strategies and technologies and for laboratory personnel to appreciate how the marker data that they generate are applied in breeding programs. The course takes place in Davis. To request more information about this course or to enroll, call (530) 757-8899, e-mail aginfo@unexmail.ucdavis.edu or visit the website at www.extension.ucdavis.edu/agriculture/index.asp.

5th Annual National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week
The Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition and others who support invasive plant management and ecosystem restoration are organizing the 5th Annual National Invasive Weeds Awareness Week February 23-26, 2004 in Washington, D.C. For more information, please follow this link http://ficmnew.fws.gov/iwac/niwaw_v/index.html.

ASTA Announces USDA-Seed Industry Workshops
ASTA is pleased to announce two important workshops that will be held in March 2004 at headquarters of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. On March 18, 2004 a workshop for native seed companies will be conducted to discuss Farm Bill implementation, opportunities for native seed companies and efforts to communicate and coordinate programs affecting native seed. The second workshop will take place on March 25 and will be devoted to organic seed issues. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be on hand to discuss implementation and enforcement of the National Organic Program. ASTA's Board of Directors established a standing Organic Committee to address issues affecting the seed industry. Both workshops will take place at USDA headquarters in Washington, DC and will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact ASTA on 703-837-8140.

2004 Congress of the African Seed Trade Association
The 2004 Congress of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) is scheduled for March 24-26, 2004 in the historic city of Tunis, Tunisia. Since it’s inception in 2000, AFSTA has grown significantly in regional stature and membership. The AFSTA Congress is now the premier event for the seed industry in Africa and offers unparalleled opportunity for those that wish the develop business relationships with the African seed industry. In addition, the Congress program has been designed to foster discussion on all critical issues facing the seed industry throughout the continent. The National Organizing Committee (NOC) of AFSTA Congress has obtained a 50% discount on all flights with Tunis Air for all the participants of the AFSTA Congress. To benefit from this offer, please contact Tunis Air agency or your travel agency by specifying that you are participant in AFSTA Congress 2004. Visas can be obtained from the Tunisian Embassy in your country. You should contact the NOC of the congress at espace.vert@planet.tn or info@afstacongress.com to request for an invitation letter to complete your visa application. The NOC has already informed all the Tunisian Embassies to facilitate delivery of the visa. Registration for the 2004 AFSTA Congress is open and registration materials and information on the Congress program, pre- and post Congress tours, can be found at www.afstacongress.com.

World Conference on Organic Seed
On July 5-7, 2004, a conference for stakeholders in the organic seed sector will be held at the headquarters of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. Delegates are expected to include scientists, plant breeders, seed producers, farmers, certifiers, and others interested in organic farming and seed production. ASTA is represented on the conference organizing committee by Frederick ‘Chip’ Sundstrom of the California Crop Improvement Association. The conference is sponsored by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), the FAO and the International Seed Federation. The focus of the conference will on the scientific and technical aspects of organic seed issues and participants will also evaluate regulatory requirements. Registration information and a provisional program can be found by visiting www.organicseedconf.org.

USDA Announces First Steps to Update Biotechnology Regulations
In a press release issued in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2004, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced USDA’s intention to update and strengthen its biotechnology regulations for the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating its biotechnology regulations and several possible regulation changes. APHIS welcomes comments and input from stakeholders and the public by March 23 to assist in determining the scope of the EIS and any proposed regulations. This notice is published in the January 23 Federal Register and is available for viewing by following this link for a PDF format or this link for a Text version. To read the complete press release, follow this link Release.

APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available at www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html. For more information on the activities of APHIS, check out the website at www.aphis.usda.gov.

In Memoriam
It is with regret ASTA must report the death, on January 15, of Wesley T. Hart, Chairman of the Board of Chas T .Hart Seed Company and member of ASTA. The funeral was conducted on Tuesday, January 20. Memorial contributions may be made to The National Down Syndrome Society, 666 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 or to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, 12 Charter Oak Place, Hartford, CT 06106.

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.

On-Line Membership Directory
ASTA has launched its new online membership directory to which only members will have access. This replaces the hardcopy directory issued in the past. Members should have received letters with their individual User ID and password. Members will have access to three directories – member companies, individuals and ASTA committees. Members will be able to search and sort within each directory in several ways, by member type, region, division, product and seed type. Members will also have the ability to e-mail an individual or group from the search results. We are confident that members will find this a valuable benefit of ASTA membership. If you have any problems accessing the new on-line directory, please contact Peter Patterson at ppatterson@amseed.org or by calling him on 703-837-8140.

ASTA Membership Database
The on-line directory draws on the information held in the ASTA membership database. It is essential, therefore, that this information is accurate and up to date. Please take a moment to check the directory to see if any of your information has changed since you joined. Please let us know of any changes to your company name, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, company ASTA representatives, etc. Details of changes can be mailed to the ASTA offices at 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 650, Alexandria, VA 22314-2875, faxed to 703-837-9365, or e-mailed to Peter Patterson, Director, Membership Services, at ppatterson@amseed.org. Changes to the database will be made as they are received and it is intended to run the program to update the directory on Friday each week. However, if there is a significant number of changes, the program will be run more often.

Upcoming Events

May 24-26, 2004
International Seed Federation Congress
Berlin, Germany
www.worldseed2004.com

June 27-30, 2004
121st ASTA Annual Convention
Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
Annual Convention

November 7-8, 2004
ASTA 50th Farm & Lawn Seed Conference
Westin Crown Center
Kansas City, MO

December 8-10, 2004
ASTA 34th Soybean & 59th Corn & Sorghum Seed Conferences and Seed Expo 2004
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL
Tel: 1-888.890.7333

January 22-25, 2005
44th Vegetable & Flower Conference
Grand Hyatt San Francisco
San Francisco, CA.
Tel: 1-888-890-7333

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

July 7-14, 2006
Joint ASTA-CSTA Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL