Seed E-News

March 16, 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 receive news about the seed industry. ASTA respects your privacy and does not share this mailing list 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 at ASTA.

Past issues can be viewed here .

New Reports
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: Effects of Global Warming on Cereal Crop Production
• USDA/ERS: 2007 Rice Outlook
• USDA/ERS: Monthly Ag Trade Update
• USDA/ERS: Feed Outlook
• USDA/ERS: U.S. Ag Productivity (1948-2004)

In the News
• 3/12 New York Times Editorial Supports Administration Farm Bill Proposal
• 3/15 Financial Times: China to Quadruple Ag Biotech Research by 2010
• 3/16 Washington Post Editorial: (Farm Bill) An Opportunity to Reform Subsidies and Boost Trade

Chairman Peterson

ASTA Discuss Farm Bill Issues
with Committee Chair Collin Peterson

Members of ASTA's Environmental and Conservation Seed Committee met with House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-7-MN) this week to discuss the role of the seed industry in the conservation title of the 2007 Farm Bill. During the discussion Chairman Peterson (pictured right) shared his views on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the importance of retaining significant acres in the program despite the pressure to return acres to production during a time of higher commodity prices. The Congressman noted that funds from H.R. 6, the "CLEAN Energy Bill of 2007," expected to be in caucus by June, are expected to aid in developing renewable fuel sources from the agricultural community. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

ASTA members meet with House Ag Committee Chair.

"You are a valuable resource for us..."
– House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson
to ASTA members this week in Washington.

State of the States...

California. The California Rice Commission (CRC) voted Wednesday to support a moratorium on the field testing of all genetically modified rice cultivars in the state. The moratorium would begin with the 2007 crop and continue until the commission votes to end it. The basis for the decision was their perception that the federal regulatory process is not working for rice in light of recent a similar ban by the Arkansas Plant Board. California has tested its public rice seed four times since August 2006, all with non-detect results for Liberty Link varieties LL601, LL62 and LL06. None of these events have been found in California. The CRC does not have regulatory authority, thus the decision is non-binding. However, it is certainly influential in future discussions by regulatory boards and legislative activity.

Indiana. A bill that prohibits the Department of Transportation and the Department of Natural Resources from selling or distributing nursery stock or wildflower seeds to residents of other states or certain businesses has passed the Senate and is under discussion by the House.

HB 1281, a bioproducts initiative, would require governmental bodies and state educational institutions to purchase biobased products under certain circumstances and establishes an Indiana biobased products advisory commission. The bill has gone through the Senate and has passed out of the House Committee on Economic Development and Technology with the recommendation to pass the House body, which would make the bill law.

Hawaii. A resolution has been introduced in the state House of Representatives to encourage representatives of the seed breeding industry, the Maui Farm Bureau, and the landowners in west Maui to enter into immediate negotiations for the establishment of a seed breeding industry in west Maui. The bill states that according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the seed industry is one of the fastest-growing agricultural industries in Hawaii with a commercial value of $70,400,000 and has surpassed the longtime staples of pineapple and sugar in crop value. It generates over $144,000,000 of economic revenue for the state annually. Also, while the seed breeding industry has grown, the real estate speculator market has declined. This bill fits into the Governor's statement in her State-of-the-State address that called for a shifting of the State's economy away from land speculation to other successful diversified businesses, such as agriculture and the seed breeding industry.

For more information contact Pat Miller.

On Capitol Hill...

ASTA members and staff met with Congressional members and staff this week to encourage increased appropriations for the GEM Project, the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize. The USDA-ARS GEM Project is currently funded with $1,300,000 by the federal government and has 22 private cooperators, 20 public cooperators, one non-government organization, seven international private cooperators, and three international public cooperators in year 2006. For more information contact Leslie Cahill.

Zambia President Addresses African Seed Trade Congress

Company News and People on the Move

Kincannon & Reed, a global food, agribusiness and life sciences specialist executive search firm, marks 25 years in business.

Upcoming Industry Events

APHIS/ASTA Phytosanitary Workshop
3/22
USDA Whitten Building
Washington, DC Contact Alexis Ellicott

California Seed Association Annual Meeting
3/25 - 3/28
Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Coronado, CA

Iowa Crop Improvement Association
3/29
Annual Meeting
Iowa State Center Scheman Building
Ames, IA

AOSCA Sunflower National Variety Review Board
4/10
Fargo, ND

AOSCA Southern Region Meeting
4/12-13
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Annapolis, MD

AOSCA Western Region Meeting
4/16- 4/18
Wingate Inn of Bozeman
Bozeman, MT

Click here for a schedule of additional industry events