Seed E-News

March 19, 2004

In Memoriam
ASTA is saddened to report the passing of a past president, Ed Weimortz. Ed served as president of ASTA in 1984. He began his career in the seed business with Ferry-Morse Seed Company and then later joined Cal/West Seeds. He served on many advisory councils and boards in California and provided leadership in numerous ASTA committees, including the Legislative, International and Phytosanitary Committees. We extend our condolences to his family.

ASTA announces USDA-Seed Industry Workshops
The second of two workshops, to be held at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will take place on March 25 and will be devoted to organic seed issues with representatives from the USDA 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. The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact ASTA on 703-837-8140.

Rooms have been reserved at a special ASTA group rate of $159 single/double at:

Hilton Crystal City Ronald Reagan National Airport
2399 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington VA 22202
Phone: 703.418.6800 or 800-695-7551 for reservation
Fax: 703.418.3762

Please mention that you are with the American Seed Trade Association when making your reservation. The hotel is within walking distance of the Crystal City Metro station. The closest Metro to USDA Headquarters is the Smithsonian stop. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle service to Reagan National Airport. Visit www.wmata.com for a map of the Metro system. A taxi to USDA headquarters would cost approximately $15; a Metro ride would be approximately $5 round trip.

ASTA 121st Annual Convention
You can now register on-line for the Annual Convention in Philadelphia in June. To register, please follow this link Registration. Registrants should be aware that on May 21, 2004, registration fees for members and non-members will increase. You are encouraged to register early to take advantage of the reduced fees. For more information about the Annual Convention, please see the links in Upcoming Events at the foot of the page.

USDA Releases Draft Document Outlining Risks Associated with Imported Soybeans
On March 11, 2004 the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that it is seeking public comments on a draft document outlining the risks associated with importing soybean products from countries affected by soybean rust, an air-borne, fungal pathogen not found in the continental United States. In addition to general comments, APHIS officials are seeking responses to the following questions:

1. What conditions at harvest and during cleaning, drying, storage or transport would change the risk of introducing Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Asian soybean rust, with imported soybean, grain, seed and meal?

2. Is there additional specific information on industry and agricultural practices that would affect the risk of introducing the soybean rust pathogen with imported soybean grain, seed and meal?

3. Are most soybeans grown in areas infested with soybean rust sprayed with fungicides? How effective is this control?

4. What other practical treatments could be used to address the risk of introducing the soybean rust pathogen in imported soybean grain, seed and meal?

5. Is there any other information APHIS should consider in determining the risk of introducing soybean rust with imported soybean grain, seed and meal?

Follow these links to read the document as Text or as PDF. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before April 12, 2004. Comments may be submitted by postal mail, commercial delivery, e-mail or via Internet. If postal mail or commercial delivery is used, send an original and three copies to Docket No. 04-019-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If e-mail is used, address comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Comments must be contained in the body the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the body of the message and use "Docket No. 04-019-1", on the subject line. To submit comments online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this docket and submitting comments.

Comments may also be reviewed at USDA, South Building, Room 1141, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to view the documents are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room.

PHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

ASTA encourages all member companies to provide all sound scientific information DIRECTLY to APHIS. As ASTA is compiling all information on soybean rust to respond to any regulatory proposal in the future, please forward a copy of any submission made to APHIS. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Condon or Alexis Ellicott at (703) 837-8140.

PVPO Seeks Nominations for the Plant Variety Protection Board
The Plant Variety Protection Office is seeking nominations by April 30, 2004 for the Plant Variety Protection Board to be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Under the Plant Variety Protection Act, “the Board shall consist of individuals who are experts in various areas of varietal development” which is interpreted to include plant breeding, seed increase, certification, merchandising and use. Membership of the Board “shall include farmer representation and shall be drawn approximately equally from the private or seed industry sector and from the sector of government or the public". The PVPO Board consists of 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a 2-year period, with no member appointed for more than three 2-year periods. The term of the present board will expire in June 2004. The first meeting of the new Board will most likely be held in the spring of 2005. In order to provide the Secretary of Agriculture a broad choice, from a diverse group of applicants, in appointing Board members, the PVPO is asking for nominations of person(s) for membership on the Board, to serve for two years from the date of appointment. Expenses will be covered by USDA. For more information on this, and how to apply, please follow this link PVPO.

US Government Web Site promotes GM Crops
The U.S. government has launched a new web site about biotech crops as part of a special taxpayer-funded project to promote such crops worldwide. The web site, www.usbiotechreg.nbii.gov, which was launched last month, provides information about a range of biotech crops — from cotton to sweet corn — and outlines the government's efforts to "ensure new biotechnology products are safe for the environment and human and animal health."

USDA seek Nominations to fill Vacancies on National Organic Standards Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on March 8 that it is seeking nominations to fill five upcoming vacancies on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Successful candidates will be appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman to serve a 5-year term of office commencing January 24, 2005, and terminating January 24, 2010. The NOSB is a 15-member board responsible for developing and recommending to the Secretary a proposed National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on all other aspects of the National Organic Program.

USDA is asking for nominations to fill the following five upcoming NOSB vacancies: organic producer (two positions), organic handler, retailer, and environmentalist. To serve on the NOSB, an individual must be either an owner or operator of an organic production operation, an owner or operator of an organic handling operation, an individual who owns or operates a retail establishment with significant trade in organic products, or an individual with expertise in areas of environmental protection and resource conservation. USDA will follow equal opportunity practices in all appointments to the NOSB. Written nominations, accompanied by resumes, must be postmarked on or before June 14, 2004, and sent to:

Ms. Katherine E. Benham
Advisory Board Specialist, National Organic Program
USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 4008-S, Ag Stop 0268
Washington, D.C. 20250

For more information, contact Ms. Katherine Benham on (202) 205-7806, by fax on (202) 205-7808 or by e-mail at katherine.benham@usda.gov. For more information on the National Organic Standards Board, check out the web site at www.ams.usda.gov/nosb.

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 be 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.

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.

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
For more information on this joint meeting with the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, please follow this link Speakers.

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 Conferences and Seed Expo 2004
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL
Tel: 1-888.890.7333

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

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