Seed E-News

March 26, 2004

Jimmy Carter, George McGovern and Scientists Celebrate 'Father of the Green Revolution'
Yesterday, Thursday, March 25, 2004, Norman Borlaug, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, celebrated his 90th birthday. In Auburn, Alabama - Jimmy Carter, George McGovern and many scientists joined in the celebration. To read about his achievements and the comments on his life and work, please follow this link Borlaug. Photographs and articles can also be found at agbioworld.

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 sets Date for Soybean Request for Referendum
On March 24, 2004 in Washington, DC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will offer soybean producers the opportunity to request a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act. For more information, please follow this link Referendum.

USDA releases Draft Document outlining Risks associated with Imported Soybeans
Readers are reminded that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public comments on a draft document outlining the risks associated with importing soybean products from countries affected by soybean rust. For details about how to comment, please see the E-News for week ending March 19, 2004. APHIS will give consideration to comments received on or before April 12, 2004. 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.

Three Universities offer On-Line Organic Newsletter
Michigan State University, Purdue University, and the University of Illinois are launching a new on-line newsletter on April 15, 2004 to provide seasonal advice to field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture. To access the newsletter, please follow this link New Ag Network and be sure to bookmark it for future issues.

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.

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