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Seed E-News
October 7, 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 Officer Nominations
Sections 4 (Nominations) and Section 5 (Nominating Committee) of
Article IX of the ASTA Bylaws define the nomination process and
the composition of the nominating committee for ASTA officers.
ASTA Board policy requires that potential names for each office
for which there is an opening to be filled at the next annual meeting
be solicited from ASTA Active members through an announcement in
the November newsletter. The policy requires that the announcement
include the names and contact information for each member of the
Nominating Committee, the positions open including the qualifications
required and a request that any Active member may contact a member
of the Nominating Committee if they have a qualified member to consider
for any of the positions to be filled. This year the announcement
is also being made in the October newsletter and in ASTA E-News.
In June 2006, the following officer positions will be filled:
- Chairman
- First Vice Chairman
- Second Vice Chairman
- Vice President of the Western Region
- ASTA Representative to Canada
- ASTA Representative to Mexico
Active members are invited to submit the names of qualified candidates
to the Nominating Committee by December 15, 2005. The selected
candidate must have demonstrated a commitment to ASTA and/or regional
and state associations through previous appropriate leadership responsibilities.
For example, the candidate of choice for Second Vice Chairman could
have served as a regional vice president or the chair of a Division,
the chair of one or more ASTA standing committees, or have comparable
experience. A regional vice president candidate may have been actively
involved in one or more ASTA committees or divisions and/or a past
officer of a regional or state association.
Members of the Nominating Committee and their contact information
are:
Sonny Beck
Beck's Superior Hybrids
6767 East 276th Street
Atlanta, IN 46031
Tel: (317) 984-3508
Email: sonny@beckshybrids.com
Don Wertman
Seedway
P.O. Box 250
Hall, NY 14463
Tel: (585) 526-6391
Email: dwertman@seedway.com
Paul Bennett
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
P.O. Box 880
Morgan Hill, CA 95038-0880
Tel: (408) 778-7758
Email: pbennett@sakata.com
Future Seed Executives 2005 - Leading and Reacting to Change
ASTA's Future Seed Executives (FuSE) initiative is pleased to announce
its fourth Educational Unit to be hosted by Monsanto
(St. Louis, MO) on Friday, October 21, 2005 (8:00 am - 3:30 pm).
During the first part of the day, participants will enjoy a tour
of Monsanto's state-of-the-art Chesterfield research facilities
and learn about Monsanto's product pipeline. Kerry Preete, Vice
President of Monsanto's U.S. Crop Production business will present
an overview of Monsanto's business and field questions from participants.
During the second part of the program, Todd
Zenger of Washington University's Olin
School of Business will lead participants through an interactive
discussion and analysis of a case study involving value capture
at Renessen,
the feed joint-venture between Monsanto
and Cargill
focused on the development of quality traits and customized products
that enhance the functionality of grains, oilseeds, and other crops.
Cost for attending this event is $100 for ASTA members and $150
for participants who are not members of ASTA. A registration
form for the October 21st event is at the end of the E-News.
Space is limited to the first 20 paid participants, so register
soon! For participants joining from out of town, FuSE will organize
an optional cash-bar social event on Thursday evening, September
20th.
FuSE Educational Units target individuals with less than seven
years of seed industry experience although seed veterans are also
welcome. These units complement programs offered by the ASTA
Management Academy and are designed as regional opportunities
to expand learning, promote networking and improve general understanding
of the seed industry.
For more information about other programs offered by FuSE, contact
Alexis Ellicott at (703)
837-8140. If you are interested in hosting a FuSE Educational Unit
at your facility in 2006, please contact David
Nothmann at (314) 694-6957.
A special thanks to all FuSE sponsors:
Monsanto
Syngenta
Gro Alliance
Kincannon & Reed
Lawhon Farm
Services
Fontanelle
Hybrids
Heartland
Hybrids
Jung Seed
Genetics
Landec Ag
Purdue
University
University
of Nebraska
University of Wisconsin
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.
SCST Announces Revised Seed Technologists Training Manual
Genetic Seed Testing Chapter 14
Ithaca, NY (October 4, 2005) The Society of Commercial Seed Technologists
(SCST) announced the release of a revised Chapter 14 of the Seed
Technologists Training Manual. The Genetic Seed Testing chapter
contains up to date, practical information, contributed by the industry's
leading researchers and technologists. Over 125 pages of text and
multiple color images detail the genetic purity tests currently
utilized by the seed industry. The complete table of contents for
the chapter can be viewed at www.seedtechnology.net/publications.htm.
The chapter can be purchased alone for $55 or the entire 15 chapter
Training Manual can be purchased for $175. Information and order
forms are available from the SCST
website.
University of California, Davis Plant Breeding Academy
The Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California, Davis
is instituting a new program to teach the principles of plant breeding
to seed industry personnel. This two-year course addresses the reduced
numbers of plant breeders being trained in academic programs. It
is an opportunity for companies to invest in dedicated personnel
who are currently involved in their own breeding programs, but lack
the genetics and plant breeding background to direct a breeding
program. Attendees will meet at UC Davis for one week per quarter
over two years (eight sessions) to allow participants to maintain
their current positions while being involved in the course. Watch
for information at Plant
Breeding Academy. Or contact Sue Webster at (530) 754-7333 or
scwebster@ucdavis.edu.
Regions Not Allowed to Ban GMOs, Court Rules
The European Commission won a legal battle on GMOs on October 5,
2005 as the Austrian region of Upper Austria was prohibited by the
EU Court to ban the growing of genetically modified crops. In a
draft law in 2003, the Austrian region completely banned the cultivation
of seeds and plants containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The measure was taken on a precautionary basis, with the argument
that genetically modified crops could potentially damage ecosystems.
The commission, after consulting the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA), subsequently declared Upper Austria's move illegal under
EU internal market rules - prompting a court action by the Austrians.
First Nine Years of GM Assessed
Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot of PG Economics Ltd., UK take stock
of how biotech crops have made an impact in the first decade of
their use. Their article, "GM Crops: The Global Economic and
Environmental Impact - The First Nine Years 1996-2004," appears
in the online Agbioforum journal. Article.
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
October
7, 2005.
Industry and People
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. Testing Laboratory Earns CLEARFIELD
CONFIRMSM Validation from BASF
October 3, 2005 - Brookings, S.D. — ASTA member Mid-West Seed
Services (MWSS) was recently granted CLEARFIELD CONFIRMSM
validation for testing CLEARFIELD sunflower seed. Under agreement
with BASF, Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. developed the bioassay for
imidazolinone-tolerant sunflower seed. Mid-West Seed Services, Inc.
passed the 2005 CLEARFIELD BASF validation test for sunflowers in
September. In addition to being awarded the use of the CLEARFIELD
CONFIRMSM test seal for sunflowers, MWSS has also earned
that right on CLEARFIELD wheat and rice.
Mid-West Seed Services, Inc. is an independent seed testing
and quality assurance laboratory based in Brookings, S.D. MWSS has
achieved ISO9001 certification and has been accredited by the International
Seed Testing Association (ISTA). For more information on MWSS, please
visit www.mwseed.com.
Athenix Reports Successful Field Trials with Novel Genes Providing
High-Level Tolerance to the Herbicide Glyphosate
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina - October 5, 2005 —
ASTA member Athenix Corp., a leading biotechnology company developing
novel products, technologies, and processes for agricultural and
chemical applications, announced today it has completed successful
field trials of transgenic plants containing proprietary glyphosate
tolerance genes. Athenix has discovered a new class of genes that
provide high levels of tolerance to glyphosate, a herbicide commonly
used to kill weeds. Results from these field trials demonstrate
that plants expressing these genes can withstand 16 times the amount
of glyphosate recommended for currently available glyphosate tolerant
corn. Full
Story.
Arcadia Biosciences & Washington State University Receive NIH
Grant to Research Wheat with Reduced Celiac Disease-Causing Protein
ASTA member Arcadia Biosciences, an agricultural biotechnology company
focused on products that benefit the environment and human health,
announced October 5, 2005 that it has received a Small Business
Technology Transfer Program (STTR) grant from the National Institutes
of Health in partnership with Washington State University (WSU)
to research novel lines of wheat with reduced celiac disease-causing
proteins. 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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