Seed E-News

May 28, 2004

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. Please note that, on May 21, registration fees for members and non-members increased. For more information about the Annual Convention, please see the links in Upcoming Events at the foot of the page.

ASTA Officers 2004-2005
The nominating committee presents the following slate of officers for the year 2004-05, to be voted on at the annual meeting in Philadelphia:

Any Active member intending to nominate a candidate for any office from the floor must first obtain (in writing) agreement from the proposed nominee and the nominee’s employer indicating support for the nomination and accepting the obligation of the expense and the time commitment required to properly fulfill the responsibility required by the office, if elected. Such nomination shall be subscribed to by at least three Active members in good standing at the time of the annual meeting. Any candidate wishing to do so shall be afforded reasonable opportunity at the annual meeting to communicate their qualifications for office to the members and solicit vote. The Chairman shall have authority to determine the amount of time each candidate will be given at the podium to present their statement. The written approval required shall be presented to the chairperson of the Nominating Committee, Nathan Boardman, Crosbyton Seeds, by the person making the nomination at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting.

ASTA Produce Industry Panel
Rod Stacey of Verdant Partners, LLC will be moderating a Produce Industry Panel at the ASTA Annual Convention in Philadelphia in June. There will be three panelists. The first panelist will look at the current marketplace for produce and what factors are driving consumer needs. He will also explain and give examples of what the retailers are doing to respond to these needs and what they in turn need from the grower/shippers and the genetics providers to do so. The second panelist will discuss the grower/shipper response to these demands and the third will deal with the seed industry response to these changes particularly the continuous need to shift towards more and more specialized products through genetics and other technology. Rod Stacey will then chair a Q&A session. He is encouraging the panelists to be candid in order to promote discussion.

APHIS Workshop on "Confinement of Genetically Engineered Crops during Field Testing"
USDA-APHIS BRS is planning a workshop, to be held September 13-15, 2004 at their Riverdale, MD Headquarters, to focus on confinement issues relative to PMP and PMIPs in corn, barley, rice, safflower, tobacco, as well as cotton. Mark Condon of the ASTA staff has agreed to serve on the workshop Steering Committee which will provide opinions on the organization of the Workshop as well as potential speakers, questions for discussion and references for a bibliography etc. The five main topics to be covered by the workshop are:

• Introduction to confinement and the principle of redundancy presented by APHIS
• Setting of isolation standards by AOSCA, scale and quality control measures (monitoring)
• Confinement analysis critical control points (CACCP) and quality control/monitoring
• Modeling tools
• Monitoring and sampling strategies to verify confinement (e.g., volunteers and geneflow)

To ensure that the seed industry has optimal participation in the workshop, ASTA members are encouraged to provide as soon as possible to Mark Condon at mcondon@amseed.org any recommendations for speakers, references, moderators, note takers, etc. More detailed information on this workshop will be provided to the ASTA membership in the coming months.

EU approves GM Canned Maize
On May 19, 2004, the European Commission effectively ended the European Union’s moratorium on when it approved imports of Bt-11 maize, marketed by Syngenta, for sale as canned sweetcorn across the EU. This represents the EU’s first approval of a GM product in more than 5 years. The decision did not, however, touch on the more contentious issue of the cultivation of GM crops. The European Commission's decision follows months of deadlock between member states and flies in the face of European opinion, where consumers are largely hostile to GM with an estimated 70% opposition rate. Notwithstanding the approval, some analysts believe that consumer opposition may make it difficult for Syngenta to sell the maize in the EU. For more on this, follow this link Bloomberg.com.

According to the EU’s Health Commissioner, David Byrne, the decision should ease international concerns that prompted a US-led complaint to the World Trade Organisation. Initial reaction from the US was that the EU’s decision would change nothing until there was a pattern of approvals rather than just one. For more, follow this link No Change.

USDA grants Protection to 31 Plant Varieties
On May 20, 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued certificates of protection to developers of 18 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include barley, bluegrass, corn, fescue, pumpkin, ryegrass and soybean. The 18 certificates are being issued under the Plant Variety Protection Act. The certificates require that the varieties be new, distinct, uniform and stable. The owners will have the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the United States for the duration of protection. The 18 certificates are:

• the Sunstar Pride* variety of barley, developed by Sunderman Breeding Inc., Twin Falls, ID;
• the Absolute variety of Kentucky bluegrass, developed by J.R. Simplot Company doing business as Jacklin Seed, Post Falls, ID;
• the E24018 and N10018 varieties of field corn, developed by The J.C. Robinson Seed Company, Waterloo, NE;
• the Rebel Sentry variety tall fescue, developed by KRB Seed Company, LLC., Winston-Salem, NC;
• the SR 8500 variety of tall fescue, developed by Seed Research of Oregon, Inc., Corvallis, OR;
• the Olympic Gold variety of tall fescue, developed by Pure Seed Testing, Inc., Rolesville, NC;
• the Wildfire and Redcoat varieties of tall fescue, developed by Advanta USA, Inc., Albany, OR;
• the Wyatt's Wonder variety of pumpkin, developed by Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., Oxnard, CA;
• the Panther variety of perennial ryegrass, developed by ProSeeds Marketing, Inc., Jefferson, OR;
• the ASMARA, RANDOLPH and OWENS varieties of soybean, developed by Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA, and U.S. Government, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.; and
• the 4283008, DP 4344 RR, SG 468 RR, and DP 6299 RR varieties of soybean, developed by D&PL Technology Holding Company, LLC., Scott, MS

Also on May 20, 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of 10 new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include barley, corn, oat, and wheat. The 10 certificates are:

• the Conrad variety of barley, developed by Busch Agricultural Resources, Inc., Fort Collins, CO;
• the GSC1 and GSC3 varieties of field corn, developed by Golden Seed Company, L.L.C., Cordova, IL;
• the HiFi* variety of oat, developed by NDSU Research Foundation, Fargo, ND;
• the Eden variety of club wheat, developed by Washington State University Research Foundation, Pullman, WA;
• the Hubbard* variety of common wheat, developed by University of Idaho, Moscow, ID;
• the Prairie White* variety of common wheat, developed by Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO;
• the 25W41 and 25R54 varieties of common wheat, developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Windfall, IN; and
• the Pryor variety of common wheat, developed by WestBred, LLC, Bozeman, MT

On May 25, 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued certificates of protection to developers of three new varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants. They include barley, brachiaria and wheat. The three certificates are:

• the Moravian 22* variety of barley, developed by Coors Brewing Company, Golden CO;
• the MULATO variety of Brachiaria X, developed by SEMILLAS PAPALOTLA, Col. Roma, Mexico, D.F. , Mexico; and
• the MSU D6234* variety of common wheat, developed by Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

* In the United States seed of this variety (1) shall be sold by variety name only as a class of certified seed and (2) shall conform to the number of generations specified by the owner of the rights (84 STAT. 1542, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2321 ET SEQ).

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service administers the Plant Variety Protection Act, which provides time limited marketing protection to developers of new and distinct seed- reproduced and tuber-propagated plants ranging from farm crops to flowers. For additional information, contact the Plant Variety Protection Office at telephone (301) 504-5518, fax (301) 504-5291 or the Internet at www.usda.gov/science/PVPO/pvp.htm.

Comment Period extended on Proposal to exempt 100% Organic Producers from Research and Promotion Assessments
On May 25, 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it is extending the period in which to submit written comments on proposed changes to commodity research and promotion programs. Comments are now due to USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service by June 25, 2004. The original deadline for submitting written comments was May 26, 2004.

This proposal would exempt producers and marketers of solely 100 percent organic products from paying commodity promotion assessments.

The notice of the comment period extension will appear in the May 26 Federal Register.

Details of the proposed exemption were published in the April 26 Federal Register. The proposed rule and public comments are available at www.ams.usda.gov/2002farmbill/organicexempt

The 2002 Farm Bill directed USDA to issue regulations exempting any person who produces and markets solely 100 percent organic products and who does not produce any conventional or non-organic products from paying assessments under a commodity promotion law.

Comments may be sent via mail to Angela C. Snyder, Office of the Deputy Administrator, Poultry Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, STOP 0256, Room 3932 South, Washington, D.C. 20250 or via fax at (202) 720 5631. Comments should be submitted in duplicate. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to organicassessmen@usda.gov or on-line at www.regulations.gov

Whither the Flavr Savr Tomato?
The first genetically engineered crop to be sold in supermarkets was the Flavr Savr tomato in 1994. But a decade later no biotech tomatoes are for sale in the United States, nor are virtually any other biotech horticultural crops. Why have genetically engineered field crops – such as soybeans, corn, canola and cotton – been wildly successful, each capturing large market shares, while biotech horticultural crops have all but disappeared? A series of articles in the April-June 2004 issue of the University of California's California Agriculture journal explore the reasons why genetically engineered field (also called "agronomic") crops have succeeded in the U.S. market, while the commercialization of horticultural crops has virtually ground to a halt. The issue can be downloaded at http://californiaagriculture.ucop.edu/pressroom.html. For a hard copy, e-mail pamela.kan-rice@ucop.edu.

Watermelon Bacterial Fruit Blotch Seminar
The American Seed Trade Association and the California Crop Improvement Association are sponsoring a seminar on Watermelon Bacterial Fruit Blotch on June 3 in Tifton, GA. The seminar commences at 8:30 a.m. at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station, Tifton Campus, University of Georgia. It will feature talks, presentations and demonstrations by the country’s top scientists and will take you beyond lab tests and into the legal and preventative issues. Topics and speakers will include:

• an update of watermelon fruit blotch research worldwide, R.R. Walcott University of Georgia.
• Legal issues with BFB, featuring Bob High with Judkins, Simpson & High, a law firm from Tallahassee, FL.
• A history of BFB in Georgia, plus diagnosing and identifying, by R.D. Gitaitis, University of Georgia.
• D.B. Langston and grower recommendations for managing watermelon fruit blotch in the field.
• Murali Bandla, Ph.D, Director R&D Agdia Inc., will discuss testing procedures.

The seminar costs $100 (lunch included) and spaces are going fast. To pre-register, contact Pablo Guzman, California Crop Improvement: 530-754-9649 or Jana Middleton, Harris Moran: 209-549-5215.

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
On May 14, 2004, Colorado Governor Bill Owens announced this year's winners of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting which honors Colorado companies that have made a significant contribution to exporting in 2003. The Agricultural Award for Excellence in Exporting went to ASTA member Hollar Seeds, based in Rocky Ford, CO. Hollar Seeds has exported vegetable seed since 1950, with its first exports to Canada and Mexico. Currently, over 50 countries receive exports from Hollar Seeds. "Through their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, these Colorado companies have demonstrated the benefits of international trade," said Governor Owens. "As leaders within the business community, they have also contributed to Colorado's economy." The Governor's Award for Excellence in Exporting has been awarded annually since 1970, and recognizes Colorado companies that demonstrate a commitment to international trade. Hollar Seeds was also a recipient of the Agricultural Award for Excellence in Exporting in 1993.

Hollar Seeds produces and exports vegetable seed and has a staff of professional plant breeders who develop new varieties. The goal is to create more nutritional, appealing, and disease-resistant vegetables using natural breeding techniques.

ASTA member Strategic Diagnostics Inc., of Newark, DE, a leading provider of antibody products and analytical test kits for the food safety and water quality markets, announced on May 25, 2004, the launch of the SDI eStore, an e-commerce initiative accessible through banner links on the company's web site at www.sdix.com.

The SDI eStore provides for "Express" and "Full Featured" shopping. U.S.-based customers now have faster product navigation and searching, links to information downloads and easy checkout of their eCart selections. The Express store is a limited offering of popular product selections and only allows transactions via credit card, while the Full Featured option is for SDI registered customers and provides a broader product menu with eCart checkout charged against a credit card or the customer's SDI open account. Customers have the ability to check the status of their order fulfillment online with links provided in automatically generated email messages. The eStore System is available around the clock for order entry with the added ability during regular business hours to interact with SDI sales consultants via an Instant Messenger link from the "Contact Us" area of the store.

Commenting on the rollout, Matthew H. Knight, the Company's President and CEO, stated, "We believe that the eStore will help us realize two important goals for the Company: One, we want to significantly enhance the access that people have to information about our testing technologies. The eStore dramatically enhances the access to product and technical information across our entire portfolio. Two, we want to continue to do everything possible to improve our service. The electronic platform of an eStore is a great way to continually and cost-effectively deliver new services to our customers."

ASTA member BioDiagnostics Inc., a leader in genetic purity and standard germination seed testing, announces that Michael Thompson, Ph.D. has joined the company as its new manager of DNA Technologies. Most recently Project Leader of Technology Development at Monsanto in St. Louis, MO, Thompson will lead BioDiagnostics’ DNA department. BioDiagnostics provides cutting-edge molecular technology to help plant breeders find recombinants and segregants and molecular marker assays to increase effectiveness of plant breeding programs. “We are fortunate to have Michael join our company and lead the DNA team,” said Quentin Schultz, CEO, BioDiagnostics. “He understands the business issues our plant breeding customers face and how research, advances in testing and new technologies can help them reach their program goals.”

Thompson brings more than fifteen years of biotechnology experience in both business and scientific research. His business experience includes leading diagnostic technology development programs and teams and managing high throughput genotyping product development. Thompson also has conducted and led molecular biology research for the National Institutes of Health and at several universities, including the University of Minnesota where he received his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology.

BioDiagnostics Inc. is a leading seed testing company providing a complete line of genetic purity and standard germination testing services. BioDiagnostics partners with seed companies to achieve seed excellence by providing comprehensive industry experience and leading seed testing technology.

CROPLAN GENETICS, the seed division of ASTA member Land O’Lakes, Inc., announced on May 25, 2004, the appointment of Bruce Monson as Northern Corn Product Manager. A former manager of Corn States Hybrid Service’s Brokerage and Production Group (a Monsanto subsidiary), Monson will be responsible for continuing to build a successful product line and hybrid seed corn business for CROPLAN GENETICS in the Northern Region. He will manage business activities for the product line, as well as work with the sales organization in growing CROPLAN GENETICS and its partners’ market share presence through the cooperative channel and its staff of trained agronomists. “Bruce comes to CROPLAN GENETICS with a wealth of experience and industry knowledge in seed production, research, and sales and marketing,” said Land O'Lakes Seed Marketing and Sales Director Mike Vande Logt. “His knowledge, background and high energy will help ensure that CROPLAN GENETICS continues to develop and retain a competitive advantage.”

Monson is a seed industry veteran, and has served as Chairperson of the American Seed Trade Association Broker-Agent Division and President of the Northern Seed Trade Association. He will be working from the company’s home office in Shoreview, Minn. He received his Bachelor of Science in Agronomy and his Master of Science in Plant Breeding from North Dakota State University, and lives in Prior Lake, Minn., with his wife, Nancy, and their three children.

Land O’Lakes, Inc. is a national farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of more than $6 billion. Land O’Lakes does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries, and provides agricultural training and technical assistance in more than 30 developing nations. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, crop nutrients and crop protection products) and services.

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

June 27-30, 2004
ASTA 121st Annual Convention
Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA
Follow this link for the Program of events. Follow this link for information on 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