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Seed E-News
September 30, 2005
Registration Opens for Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Conferences
On-line registration for the Corn
& Sorghum and Soybean Conferences in Chicago December 7-9, 2005
is now available.On-line registrations are available until November
15, 2005 at $250 for ASTA members and $600 for non-members. After
that date, registrations can only be made on-site at $325 for ASTA
members and $675 for non-members.Register early.
ASTA Announces Third Workshop with APHIS
During the 2004 ASTA Annual Convention, it was agreed that efforts
would be made to hold two APHIS-ASTA workshops each year. The third
workshop in this series is now scheduled for November 15, 2005 at
USDA in Washington, DC. This workshop will serve as an opportunity
for ASTA members to interface with APHIS officials and decision
makers on phytosanitary issues. Past workshops included issues such
as: APHIS Permitting Process; seed, pests and pathogens; soybean
rust, pest risk analyses (PRAs) for Brazil & China; issues on the
movement of seed in Mexico, Korea and Argentina; ASTA - APHIS communications;
National Seed Health System and the National Plant Diagnostic Network/Homeland
Security. If you are interested in attending this meeting with representatives
from APHIS, please contact Barb Surian at (703) 837-8140 or by email
at bsurian@amseed.org. Information
on hotels and logistics will be announced.
CropLife International launches Guidance Document for Field
Trials of Biotech Crops
CropLife International announces the release of its new general
compliance management document for conducting confined field trials
of biotech crops. Confined field trials refer to small-scale experimental
field trials of a genetically engineered plant species performed
under the terms and conditions that mitigate impacts on the surrounding
environment. Full
Story.
General Assembly of IFOAM Approves Principles of Organic Agriculture
On September 28, 2005, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM) announced that the General Assembly had approved
the revised Principles of Organic Agriculture. Full
Story.
California GMO Debate Heats Up
The Lake County Board of Supervisors debates a 30-month moratorium
on planting genetically modified Roundup-resistant alfalfa in the
county. Opponents of the moratorium, including the Farm Bureau,
fear it will be the first step toward a full ban on genetically
modified organisms in Lake County. Moratorium proponents say they
are working to create a 30-month period in which the seed won't
be planted in Lake County. That, they say, will allow farmers and
officials to observe how the hay does in other areas and decide
whether or not to allow it to be grown here. Full
Story.
California Restaurateurs Oppose Biotech Crop Bans
The California Healthy Foods Coalition recently announced that the
California Restaurant Association (CRA) and several additional agricultural
organizations have joined the farm coalition's efforts to promote
the benefits of biotech crops and oppose efforts to ban agricultural
biotechnology in California. Full
Story.
Soybean Rust Web Sites
The following links will be maintained through October 2005, those
interested, should bookmark them:
US Grains Council Global Update
The weekly global update is provided at the request of the Corn
& Sorghum Division. Follow the link for the update for week ending
September
23, 2005 and September
30, 2005.
Industry and People
18 New Garst® Brand Soybean Varieties Available for 2006 On
September 27, 2005, ASTA member Garst Seed Company announced the
introduction of 18 new Garst® brand soybean varieties for the
2006 growing season. The lineup includes 15 new varieties with the
Roundup Ready1 trait — seven of which also offer resistance
to soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) — and one variety that offers
the Roundup Ready trait and the new CystX2 technology. Three new
conventional varieties also are available. Full
Story.
If your company or organization has any personnel changes or other
developments that you would like to see included in the ASTA E-News,
please send details to ppatterson@amseed.org.
ASTA Conferences and Activities
November 5-8, 2005
ASTA Farm & Lawn Seed Meeting
Westin Crown Center, Kansas City, MO
(held in conjunction with the Western Seed Association)
December 7-9, 2005
60th Corn & Sorghum and
35th Soybean Research Conferences
Seed Expo (Dec. 7-8, 2005)
Hyatt Regency
Chicago, IL
Online Registration
January 28-31, 2006
45th Vegetable
& Flower Seed Conference
Amelia
Island Plantation
Amelia Island, FL
Other Upcoming Events
October 2005
The USDA-ARS National Program for Plant, Microbial and Insect Genetic
Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement (NP 301) will be holding
a National Program Assessment and Customer Workshop October 31
- November 1, 2005 at the BWI Airport Marriott, Baltimore, MD.
An agenda for the workshop was included in the August 19, 2005 issue
of ASTA E-News.
The workshop will be held at the BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West
Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD. A block of rooms has been reserved
until October 15, 2005 at the government rate of $133.00/night plus
tax under the name AU.S. Department of Agriculture. Please call
the hotel directly at (410) 859-8300 or register online at http://www.stayatmarriott.com/USDA/.
Please let USDA know by September 15, 2005, whether you can or cannot
participate in this Workshop by e-mailing Valorie Butler at vjw@ars.usda.gov
If you have any questions, please contact Rick Bennett at (301)
504-6252, e-mail rbennett@ars.usda.gov;
Peter Bretting at (301) 504-5541, e-mail pkb@ars.usda.gov;
John Radin at (301) 504-5450, e-mail jwr@ars.usda.gov;
Eric Rosenquist at (301) 504-4789, e-mail emr@ars.usda.gov;
Kay Simmons at (301) 504-5560, e-mail kws@ars.usda.gov;
or Rich Wilson at (301) 504-4670, e-mail rfw@ars.usda.gov.
November 2005
National Soybean Rust Workshop
The American Phyto-Pathological Society has scheduled a workshop
in conjunction with USDA and the American Soybean Board for November
15-16, 2005 to discuss soybean rust. The symposium will be held
at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, TN. Check out the APS web
site http://www.apsnet.org/online/sbr/
for more information about the symposium and to subscribe to the
mailing list for periodic updates.
Seed Sampling Training
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. of Brookings, SD will be holding a
Seed Sampling Workshop in Boise, ID, on November 29-30, 2005
just prior to the IEOSA meeting at the Doubletree Riverside. Participants
who successfully complete the workshop are eligible to become an
"authorized sampler" for ISTA Orange Certificates and
would be recognized by Canada for sampling pedigreed seed. Some
of the topics taught at these sessions include:
- AOSA, CFIA and ISTA Sampling Rules
- Proper Sampling Techniques and Methods
- Sample Intensities
- Sealing Seed Lots
- Subdividing Samples
- ISTA Certificates
- Appropriate Sampling Equipment
- Canadian Grading System
Registration fees are $250 per person. Early registration discounts
are available. Further workshops are planned for 2006. See below
for details. If you are interested in learning more about the workshops,
contact Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. on (877) 692-7611 or visit
www.mwseed.com
and click on Workshops/Training.
December 2005
A scientific meeting on "Crop Gene Flow and The Occurrence and Consequence
of Gene Introgression between Crops and Their Sexually Compatible
Relatives" will be held on December 13-14, 2005 in Kansas
City, Missouri. The purpose of the meeting is to bring together
academic, industry, government and other interested scientists for
comprehensive discussions on: 1) pollen mediated gene flow in crops;
and 2) the occurrence and consequences of hybridization and gene
introgression between crops and their sexually compatible relatives.
The program will consist of invited keynote addresses (1/2 day),
and one day of volunteer paper and posters, facilitated discussions,
and free time. More information can be found at the meeting web
page at http://www.ncwss.org/meeting/2005/GeneFlow05.htm.
Title submission instructions (September 26 deadline) for volunteer
posters and papers, as well as instructions to receive updates on
the meeting are available at the web site listed above. The gene
flow meeting will be held in conjunction with the North Central
Weed Science Society Meeting and participants are free to participate
in both meetings).
January 2006
Fourth Biennial Organic Seed Growers Conference
The Organic Seed Alliance will be holding the Fourth Biennial Organic
Seed Growers Conference on January 11 & 12, 2006 at McMenamins
Edgefield in Troutdale, OR. On January 10, 2006, they will
be holding a one day Seed Biology Short Course. You can register
for the conference and the course Here.
Contact Organic Seed Alliance info@seedalliance.org
or (360) 385-7192 for additional information.
Seed Sampling Training
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. of Brookings, SD will be holding a
Seed Sampling Workshop in Lubbock, TX. Dates have yet to be set.
If you are interested in learning more about the workshops, contact
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. on (877) 692-7611 or visit www.mwseed.com
and click on Workshops/Training.
March 2006
AOSCA Mid-Winter Meeting
The 2006 Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA)
Mid-Winter meeting will be held March 1-3, 2006 at the Embassy Suites
Hotel, Orlando. The AOSCA Board of Directors meeting will be held
March 1-2. The AOSCA Advisory Committee and the Service Development
Marketing Committee (SDMC) will meet March 3. Meeting details are
being finalized and will be posted on the AOSCA
web site as they are completed. Clicking on this link Embassy
Suites Hotel Orlando-Airport will allow you to view hotel details
and amenities. Reservation information will be provided in the coming
weeks on the AOSCA web site.
Spring 2006
Seed Sampling Training
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. of Brookings, SD will be holding a
Seed Sampling Workshop in Yuma, AZ. Dates have yet to be set. If
you are interested in learning more about the workshops, contact
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. on (877) 692-7611 or visit www.mwseed.com
and click on Workshops/Training.
June 2006
Seed Sampling Training
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. of Brookings, SD will be holding a
Seed Sampling Workshop at their facility in Brookings, SD. Dates
have yet to be set. If you are interested in learning more about
the workshops, contact Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. on (877) 692-7611
or visit www.mwseed.com
and click on Workshops/Training.
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